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LETTERS 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 



BY 

JANE A. SCOTT. 



WITH AN 

INTRODUCTION BY REV. WESLEY KENNEY. 



Holiness becometh thine house, Lord, forever. 

Psalmist. 



PHILADELPHIA: A 

FOR SALE AT THE TRACT DEPOSITORY, 

119 North Sixth Street; and at 

OTHER METHODIST BOOKSTORES. 

1859. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by 

JANE A. SCOTT, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for 
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 



The Library 
of Congress 



WASHINGTON 



COLLINS, PRINTER. 



TO THE 

YOUTH OF THE M. E. CHUKCH, 

AND 

THOSE OF ALL OTHER BRANCHES OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 

WHO DESIRE TO BE BIBLE CHRISTIANS, 

%\x% IittU f olttme 

IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED 

BY THE WRITER. 



PREFACE. 



This little volume is tlie result of numer- 
ous conversations on the subject of Christian 
holiness, or the holiness which the Methodist 
Church has always held to be attainable 
through the blood of Christ, and the agency 
of the Holy Spirit; and not only attainable, 
but the privilege of all Christians. The aim 
in writing these letters was to meet objections 
and inquiries, which the writer found to arise 
in the minds of those, especially young per- 
sons, with whom she conversed. These she 
found to be various : difficulties were raised, 
by the great adversary^ varying according 
to the mental constitution, or circumstances 
of the person ; and often, when one was sur- 
mounted, another was raised in the same 
mind, so that some persons have had nearly 
all the temptations, here referred to, to con- 
tend with. And although they are met, 



VI PREFACE. 

directly or indirectly, in the excellent trea- 
tises on this subject that have appeared, the 
answers are generally so mixed with other 
matter that the inquirers will not take the 
trouble of searching them out. The apology 
for offering these Letters to the public is this, 
many persons, in whose judgment the church 
has confidence, earnestly advised their pub- 
lication; thought they were adapted to do 
good,* and would be read by many who 
would not read a treatise however excellent 
it was. If the Great Head of the Church 
will condescend to employ them to incite 
any of the youth of the church, for whom 
particularly they were written, to a fuller 
consecration of their powers to God, to a 
" closer walk" with him, the writer will 
think her time well spent, and will "give 
God the praise." 

* The Rev. Levi (now Bishop) Scott said, in a letter 
to the writer, " I cordially advise their publication ; 
I think them well adapted to do good ; to promote the 
great cause of Christian Perfection." 



CONTENTS. 



LETTER I. 



The light of the Spirit necessary to show us our privi- 
lege — We live under the dispensation of the Spirit 
— We ought to seek to know our privilege — What 
Holiness, or Perfect Love implies — Christ's Atone- 
ment the ground of acceptance, &c. &c. . P. 13 

LETTER II. 

The means of purification, the Fountain opened in the 
house of David — The blood of Christ— The Agent the 
Holy Spirit — He enlightens, convinces, renews, seals, 
sanctifies, and bears his testimony to the fact in the 
believing heart — Christ the Alpha and the Omega in 
our salvation — The act of ours that brings us into 
possession is faith — Its importance, &c. &c. . 21 

LETTER III. 

The foundation of our faith is the word of God — Its 
precepts enjoin holiness, and its promises secure it 
to us — Its prophecies point to it, and its prayers re- 
cognize it as our privilege ; and its exhortations press 
us on to its attainment, &c 28 



Vlll CONTENTS. 



LETTER IV. 

Satan presents seeming discouragements — There are no 
real discouragements — Faith will triumph over all 
opposition — If allowed to exert its omnipotence, it 
will certainly bring the power that " slays the dire 
root and seed of sin," &c. . . . P. 41 

LETTER V. 

The difference between saving faith and the faith we 
are daily exercising is in the objects to which they 
relate — We err in mystifying faith — The difference 
between general and appropriating faith — How the 
Spirit assists our faith, and thus increases it — Errors 
in praying for faith as the consequence of mistaken 
notions of it — An anecdote — The omnipotence of 
faith, &c .47 

LETTER VI. 

Satan opposes our spiritual progress — Faith overcomes 
him — Personal experience of the power of faith — 
This is the dispensation of the Spirit, &c. &c. . 57 

LETTER VII. 

Distrust of God a common temptation — God does not 
willingly afflict his people, though he sometimes 
leads them through great tribulation — It is import- 
ant that we have the spirit of sacrifice — Resignation 
not stoical indifference — Personal experience of the 



CONTENTS. IX 

sweetness of resignation — Religion hinders none of 
our rational enjoyment of the blessings of this life — 
Christ the common "centre where all Christians meet, 
&c. &c P. 68 

LETTER Villi 

Christian perfection not Adamic — Love is the fulfilling 
of the law — Christ makes an atonement for our im- 
perfections — Continual faith in his blood brings us 
into constant contact with his merits, and renders 
our imperfect services acceptable — Christian perfec- 
tion described — Some of its glorious results referred 
to, &c 77 

LETTER IX. 

Satan's wiles further considered — Our weakness no 
cause of discouragement, since Christ is our strength 
— It is a false humility that would keep us from 
Christ — Exhortations to press on to the enjoyment 
of our privilege, &c. 86 

LETTER X. 

Reasons for early consecration further considered — 
There may be much usefulness where great talents 
are not given — Those who have been most useful 
were early consecrated to God — The necessity of 
being entirely consecrated to God, that we may be 
kept in his fear — There is no presumption in claim- 
ing our privilege — If others live beneath their privi- 
lege that is no reason why we should, &c. . 95 



CONTENTS. 



LETTER XI. 



Encouragements to persevere in the way of faith. — Ex- 
amples of persons early consecrated to Grod — Devo- 
tion to Christ ranks us with the ancient and modern 
worthies, at the head of which phalanx Christ stands 
— Exhortations to an immediate act of faith — Joy in 
heaven over the soul contending for its privilege— 
The thought that those of our friends who have gone 
before participate in it, a strong stimulus to perse- 
verance — The happy consequences of believing, &c. 

P. 105 

LETTER XII. 

Exhortations to an entire trust in Christ and to present 
faith in his blood — Christ's readiness to give us full 
salvation — Danger in expecting him to work accord- 
ing to our preconceived notions — Fletcher's opinion 
on that subject — The simplicity of love, &c. . 113 



LETTER XIII. 

The blessedness of the enjoyment of perfect love — The 
importance of walking in the highway of holiness — 
The perfect Christian derives momentarily his life 
from Christ — The Christian armor given us to use it 
— Persecution to be expected — Christ hath set us an 
example of patient endurance — Necessity of culti- 



CONTENTS. Xi 

vating the graces of the Spirit — Christian perfection 
admits of growth — Christ will lead his people on, &c. 

P. 119 



LETTER XIV. 

Joy a fruit of faith — Various causes operate so as to 
damp it — An anecdote showing that it exists when it 
is not sensible — Resignation the deepest lesson the 
Christian learns — It is likeness to Christ — Personal 
experience — Faith, love, and resignation the cardinal 
graces — Diligence in the service of God, the way to 
enjoyment, &c. 133 



LETTER XV. 

The importance of cross-bearing — The kind of self- 
denial we are to practise — The Word of God, and 
not the example of professors, is to be our guide in 
this matter — It is a false humility that shuns the 
cross — We are Jesus' witnesses — No spirit to be fol- 
lowed but the one that breathes in the divine word. 

145 

LETTER XVI. 

Observations on dress — Neatness and simplicity to be 
observed — All affectation to be avoided — A sense of 
dependence to be cultivated — The love of Christ is 
infinite, &c. &c 157 



Xll CONTENTS. 



LETTER XVII. 

The beauty of holiness — It brings power to resist temp- 
tation — Personal experience — There is a grief caused 
by the separation of friends that is not inconsistent 
with resignation — It is a great salvation to be saved 
from unnecessary self-reproach — The unction of the 
Holy One will teach all things, &c. &c. . P. 164 



INTRODUCTION. 



"As He which hath called you is holy, so be 
ye holy in all manner of conversation, " is a pre- 
cept of unspeakable importance to all who aspire 
to the life eternal in heaven. To aid such is the 
design of this volume. In the form of familiar 
"letters/ 7 it treats of "Christian holiness" as the 
privilege of all, who will enter into the " holiest 
by the blood of Jesus." Here the understanding 
of the earnest inquirer is not confused and be- 
wildered by the din and strife of controversy ; but 
is led to regard purity of heart and life as the dis- 
tinguishing privilege of the believer on earth, and 
as the condition upon which is suspended an en- 
trance into " the everlasting kingdom of our Lord 
and Saviour Jesus Christ." 

The polemics of the subject abound in books of 

different pretension from this, while its more 

didactic forms have been fully treated by numerous 

and able advocates, who have stood forth in de- 

1 



XIV INTRODUCTION. 

fence of " the truth as it is in Jesus. " Here, 
without any pretensions to skill in authorship, 
the writer asserts the purchased privilege of be- 
lievers in a style well befitting the simplicity of 
the gospel ; and with a fervency of spirit quite in 
harmony with the designs of the Son of God in 
giving " himself for us, that he might redeem us 
from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a pecu- 
liar people, zealous of good works." The epis- 
tolary form will render it at once simple and 
attractive. By this means, the humble and teach- 
able in the school of Christ, will be led into the 
experimental realization of a " peace that passeth 
understanding," without the perplexities which 
too often involve the subject in the more elaborate 
treatises upon this sublime theme. Indeed, it is 
our clear and well-settled conviction, that sim- 
plicity in the style and mode of setting forth the 
great doctrines and privileges of the gospel, is pre- 
eminently a want of the age. It is thus such 
themes are treated in the teachings of the Master 
and his apostles ; and it is thus all should treat 
them, who ardently desire to lead the lambs of 
Christ's flock into the rich pasturage provided for 
their sustenance and growth. 

It will be seen by the reader that the author 



INTRODUCTION. XV 

has kept herself within the well settled bounds 
and limits of the subject — indulging in no theories 
or visionary speculations, but steadily paying 
merited deference to the conclusions of a sound 
Wesleyan theology — " teaching none other things" 
than those sanctioned by the godly judgment of 
the man whom we honor as teacher of the " deep 
things of God." It is, therefore, a safe work for 
the young, and well adapted to stimulate them to 
diligence in the pursuit of that holiness without 
which none shall see the Lord. 

It is cause of devout thanksgiving to God that 
" Christian holiness" is becoming more than ever 
the theme of the pulpit, and the experience of the 
church. No longer confined and restricted to the 
teachings of a few, who were supposed to be set- 
ters-forth of an impracticable and unattainable 
experience, it is now the common theme of an 
evangelical Christendom ; while its purifying spirit 
has permeated almost every heart, and baptized 
almost every lip, to whose ministry is intrusted 
" the unsearchable riches of Christ." Among the 
agencies by means of which it is hoped, through 
God's blessing, to quicken the churches into a 
higher life, this little volume asks and claims an 
humble place. It goes on its mission with the 



XVI INTRODUCTION. 

earnest hope and sincere prayer, that it may lead 
many souls to know, and to rejoice in, the un- 
speakable privileges of a " perfect love that 

CASTETH OUT ALL FEAR." 

W. KEKNEY. 

Philadelphia, December, 1858. 



LETTERS ON CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 



LETTER I. 

The light of the Spirit necessary to show us our privi- 
lege — "We live under the dispensation of the Spirit 
— We ought to seek to know our privilege — What 
Holiness, or Perfect Love implies — Christ's Atone- 
ment the ground of acceptance, &c. &c. 

My Dear Friend: — 

It is with great pleasure, and yet with 
trembling awe, I attempt to answer your in- 
quiries on the subject of Perfect Love. I 
would feel pleasure in aiding you in your 
pursuit of this invaluable blessing; yet, con- 
scious as I am of the sacredness of the ground 
on which I tread in trying to do so, I ap- 
proach the subject with profound solemnity; 
entreating the Father of spirits, and Source 

2 



14 LETTERS ON 

of light, to aid me in writing, and cause his 
Spirit to shine into your heart, and to shine 
upon his word, and so to take of the things 
that are Christ's, and show them unto you, 
that you may be able to apprehend your 
high calling's glorious hope; and that you, 
having correct views of your privilege in the 
gospel, may, by faith, "lay hold on the hope 
set before you." This is emphatically the 
dispensation of the Spirit; therefore, it be- 
comes us as Christians to examine carefully 
what God the Spirit proposes to do in us, 
lest we allow ourselves to be kept dwarfs in 
religion, when we might come up to the 
measure of the stature of a " Perfect man in 
Christ Jesus." You are anxious to know 
what this Holiness or Perfect Love, of which 
we speak, is, and how it is to be attained. 
Perhaps we cannot get a clearer view of it 
than by referring to those persons and ani- 
mals that, under the law, or Mosaic dispen- 
sation, were termed holy. The priests were 
of this number, and by a reference to the 
account given us by Moses, we find they were 
separated from all purposes foreign to the 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 15 

service of the temple, consecrated to that 
service, and cleansed or purified for it. We 
also find that blood was used in the purifica- 
tion; for the Lord said unto Moses: "And 
thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the 
altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle 
it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and 
upon his sons, and upon the garments of his 
sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and 
his garments, and his sons, and his sons' gar- 
ments with him." — Ex. xxix. 21. Holiness, 
then, we see, implies two things; entire con- 
secration and purification. In view of this, 
the apostle Peter calls the Christians, to 
whom he addresses an epistle, and all who 
"Have obtained like precious faith," "A 
royal priesthood" — "Kings and priests unto 
God." 

My sister, is not our calling, then, a high 
and holy one ? We are called to be kings 
and priests unto God, to offer unto him spi- 
ritual sacrifices. Yea, the way is opened 
into the "Holiest" by the blood of Jesus, and 
we may approach to God "by a new and 



16 LETTERS ON 

living way which he hath consecrated for us 
through the veil, that is to say, his flesh." 

We may, yea, we are kindly and pressing- 
ly invited to come and enjoy communion with 
the Maker and Governor of the universe — 
the "King of kings, and Lord of lords;" be- 
cause we have there, at all times, a merciful 
and gracious High Priest, who presents our 
cause and pleads the sacrifice once offered of 
himself for us; for as, under the Mosaic law, 
all preparations for office, or for approach to 
God were accompanied by bloody sacrifices; 
so, under the Christian dispensation, the in- 
dividual who comes to God must plead the 
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world 
as the ground of his hope. And, I doubt 
not, when we examine the subject a little 
farther and see how great are the privileges 
which this sacrifice secures to us, you will 
say with me, hallelujah to God and the Lamb! 
or unite with the heavenly company which 
John heard: "Saying, with a loud voice, 
worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive 
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, 
and honor, and glory, and blessing." Yes! 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 17 

worthy is the Lamb, and when all heaven's 
hierarchy, and all the redeemed from earth 
shall join in an eternal song of "Worthy is 
the Lamb," that shall peal through the celes- 
tial dome, his worthiness, his love can ne'er 
be told. Then — 

" my soul, prolong 
The never ceasing song ; 
Christ my theme, my hope, my joy, 

His be all my happy days ; 
Praise my every hour employ, 

Every breath be spent in praise." 

But a question arises here: "What is the 
nature of the consecration we are to make, 
and by w T hat means shall we attain to this 
state of purification? Christ is the sacrifice, 
you will say, but what is the means of puri- 
fication ? With respect to the consecration 
which we are to make, I would say it is 
clearly set forth in the divine word. St. 
Paul, in the 12th chapter of his Epistle to 
the Romans, and 1st verse, says: "I beseech 
you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of 
God, that ye present your bodies a living 
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which 
2* 



18 LETTERS ON 

is your reasonable service." Here is an al- 
lusion to those animals which were presented 
to God for sacrifice under the Mosaic law. 
They were living animals when brought to 
the temple; nothing that had died of itself 
was acceptable; they were also free from 
blemish, and were the very best of the flock 
or herd. 

This teaches us that now, while we have 
life and health, we are to dedicate ourselves 
unreservedly to God; to do or to suffer his 
righteous will; to keep his glory, and the 
answering of his designs in view, in the dis- 
posal of all our time; to employ all our ta- 
lents in his service, whether he has given us 
one, or five, or ten; willing to be "hewers of 
wood or drawers of water," so we may be 
employed for him in the way he shall choose 
to appoint. We are to commit all choosing 
and legislating for us into his hands, without 
reserving to ourselves any right to say what 
he shall give, or what he shall withhold. We 
must renounce the world — its spirit is enmity 
to God — and until we are willing to act inde- 
pendent of its smiles or frowns, we are not 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 19 

fully prepared to acknowledge Christ as our 
King. "We are to form the determination to 
stand for God, in the strength of grace, at all 
times, in all places, and at all hazards. In 
making this dedication, however, we need 
not fear being called to renounce all rational 
means of enjoyment, or suppose that God 
will take delight in afflicting us, because we 
have promised that, in his strength, we will 
not become restive under his hand. 

God is love, and cannot be indifferent to 
the comfort of any of his creatures ; he takes 
no pleasure in the pain of any living thing; 
on the contrary, he provides for the comfort 
and happiness of all ; and those who make 
an entire consecration of themselves to him, 
become the especial objects of his care. They 
enter into covenant with him, and he with 
them; the consecration above described is 
their part of the covenant; and, as his part, 
he condescends to charge himself with the 
care of all that concerns them. They that 
touch them, touch the apple of his eye — 

" He sees their hopes, lie knows their fear, 
And looks, and loves his image there ;" 



20 LETTERS ON 

and lie will make all things work together 
for their good, and require them to sacrifice 
nothing but what his infinite wisdom sees 
hurtful to them. 

I have now, my dear friend, filled up my 
present letter, and must defer the further con- 
sideration of the subject to some future time ; 
hoping and praying that, in the mean time, 
you will make the subject of consecration a 
matter of serious and prayerful consideration, 
and that you may be enabled to make the 
sacrifice, and to lay yourself on the altar a 
whole burnt offering, is the prayer of your 
friend. 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 21 



LETTER II. 

The means of purification, the Fountain opened in the 
house of David — The blood of Christ— « The Agent the 
Holy Spirit — He enlightens, convinces, renews, seals, 
sanctifies, and bears his testimony to the fact in the 
believing heart — Christ the Alpha and the Omega in 
our salvation — The act of ours that brings us into 
possession is faith — Its importance, &c. &c. 

My Dear Friend : — 

I now resume the subject which we be- 
gan to consider in my last letter, and shall 
proceed to consider the means of purification. 
The Prophet Zechariah looked forward from 
the desolate state of the church in his day, 
and beheld, in prophetic vision, "A fountain 
opened to the house of David for sin and for 
uncleanness." — Zech. xiii. 1. St. John tells 
us in his first General Epistle, 1st chapter, 
and 7th verse: "The blood of Jesus Christ — 
cleanseth us from all sin." Paul, in his 
Epistle to the Hebrews, 9th chapter, and 13th 



22 LETTERS ON 

and 14th verses, says: "For if the blood of 
bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer 
sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the puri- 
fying of the flesh ; how much more shall the 
blood of Christ, who through the eternal 
Spirit offered himself without spot to God, 
purge your conscience from dead works to 
serve the living God?" This precious blood 
it is which purifies our polluted souls. It is 
when this is applied that we become "elect 
through sanctification of the Spirit, and 
sprinkling of the blood of Christ." John 
refers to this fact when, in his salutation to 
the seven churches in Asia, he uses this sub- 
lime and poetic language: "Unto him that 
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his 
own blood, and hath made us kings and 
priests unto God and his Father; to him 
be glory and dominion forever and ever. 
Amen." — Eev. i. 5, 6. 

The sprinkling of the blood of the atoning 
animal on Aaron, and his sons, which ren- 
dered them legally clean, and purified them 
for the service of the Jewish temple, typi- 
fied the application of the blood of Christ, 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 23 

our atoning sacrifice, to our hearts and con- 
sciences, preparing us, as priests to God, to 
render unto him purely spiritual worship in 
the temple of our hearts, the place which, 
under the gospel dispensation, he hath chosen 
for himself to dwell. The great agent in this 
work of salvation is the Holy Spirit. The 
Saviour himself informs us of the work of 
the Spirit : " He shall teach you all things ;" 
"The Spirit of truth will guide you into all 
truth;" "He shall receive of mine, and shall 
show it unto you." — John xiv. 26, and xvi. 
13, 15. St. Paul, also, in writing to the Co- 
rinthian Church, says: "Ye are washed, ye 
are sanctified, ye are justified in the name of 
the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our 
God." — 1st Cor. vi. 11. In another place he 
tells us: "It is by the washing of regenera- 
tion, and renewing of the Holy Ghost that 
we are saved;" and we are exhorted not to 
grieve the Spirit of God, whereby we are 
sealed to the day of redemption. 

Thus, we see, the ever blessed Trinity is 
united in the great work of redemption, as 
in the work of creation. The Father, in 



24 LETTERS ON 

answer to the prayer of the Son, sends the 
Holy Spirit; the Spirit shows us our depra- 
vity, leads us to the open fountain, applies 
the precious blood of sprinkling, affixes his 
seal, and bears his testimony to his own work. 
"Here the whole Deity is seen;" but promi- 
nent, indeed, stands the Son. He took our 
nature upon him, and not only did he satisfy 
the demands of Divine justice in paying the 
penalty due to the broken law, and thus pro- 
vide means by which God can be just, and 
the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus, 
but his is the sacrifice that renders our offer- 
ing acceptable when we would consecrate 
body, soul, and spirit to God. His is the 
blood that cleanseth from all sin. His flesh 
is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed : 
of which, if we partake not, we have no life 
in us. 

In the earliest stages of our Christian ex- 
perience, the Lamb slain is the foundation of 
our hope and the burden of our song ; as we 
progress, it is the Lamb ; when we arrive at 
the state of fathers in Christ, still we sing the 
Lamb; and when we shall mingle our halle- 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 25 

lujahs with the celestial choir, the highest 
note will be glory to God and the Lamb ! 
Jesus Christ is to us the Alpha and the 
Omega, the beginning and the end, the first 
and the last. Now, although the whole 
Trinity have thus conspired to effect our re- 
storation to the Divine image, such is the 
plan of salvation, that this great, this desira- 
ble end will not be answered without our co- 
operation; and the immediate act of ours 
that brings the blessing is faith. When we 
bring our offering to the altar faith is neces- 
sary to its acceptance ; indeed, I think, we 
will not be likely to make the offering until 
we believe it will be accepted as soon as we 
offer it. And as "the altar is most holy, so 
whatever toucheth it is holy." It must not 
be applied to carnail uses, and the fire of Di- 
vine love will consume, speedily, whatever 
dross remains, so that we need not be de- 
terred from making the offering by the con- 
sideration that we have nothing to bring but 
what has much remaining impurity in it. 
We are to bring our offering to God just as 
it is, and believe it will be accepted and 
3 



26 LETTERS ON 

purified. God does not require us to bring 
to him what we have not to give. If we 
were pure, there would be no need of cleans- 
ing; we would then only have to be careful 
to keep ourselves unspotted in the would; 
but as we come to God through Christ, feel- 
ing and knowing our impurity, we are re- 
quired to believe that he will take away all 
our dross; that he is a Saviour to his people 
from all their sins. Nay, more, that he does 
save us when we come to him and ask him, 
because he has promised to do so, and his 
promise cannot fail. 

The reason why a great many fail to ob- 
tain this full salvation is, they stumble here 
at the very threshold; they keep praying 
and praying for a clean heart, but will not 
believe for it; and so, like the man at Be- 
thesda's pool, they lie for a long time, while 
many, by faith, plunge into the opened foun- 
tain and experience its cleansing power. 
Again, others come with a faith so weak 
that, by its faint and flickering ray it appears 
to them at a great distance, and only to be 
reached by a slow process; therefore, they 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 2T 

think they must travel towards it; and after 
they have toiled and striven, perhaps for a 
series of years, they will at last arrive at 
the goal, and enjoy the much desired rest of 
fperect love ; but after living for years, per- 
haps for many years, in this way, you find 
they get no nearer to it until they discover 
that "the word is nigh them, even in their 
mouth, and in their heart; the word of faith 
which, we preach." Some of these, instead 
of advancing towards it after they have 
viewed it in the distance for some time, turn 
their thoughts from it, and instead of going 
on to perfection, they are found measuring 
their steps back to earth again; associating 
with the worldly and the gay, and retaining 
little of religion but the form. 

You see, then, my dear friend, that faith is 
of the utmost importance ; indeed, without it 
" it is impossible to please God.' 7 Then let 
the cry of your heart be — 

" Oh for a firm and lasting faith, 
To credit all the Almighty saith ; 
To embrace the promise of his Son, 
And feel the Comforter my own." 



28 LETTERS ON 

This is the realizing light that drives away 
the shadows of unbelief, and clears up the 
prospect of the goodly land, and enables us 
to enter in. May it be yours. 



LETTER III. 

The foundation of our faith is the word of God — Its 
precepts enjoin holiness, and its promises secure it 
to us — Its prophecies point to it, and its prayers re- 
cognize it as our privilege ; and its exhortations press 
us on to its attainment, &c. 

My Dear Friend: — 

You are desirous of knowing on what 
foundation your faith can rest. What rea- 
son you can give for indulging the " Glorious 
hope of perfect love." I said in my last you 
were to rest it on the word of God. That is 
the only sure foundation, and if our hopes 
are built on anything else, we must be 
doomed to disappointment. It is certainly 






CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 29 

very important, then, that we should know 
whether we have a right to expect a thing 
before we either pray or believe for it. I 
believe one great reason why we do not see 
more answers to prayer in the church is, 
people pray too much at random, without 
considering whether they really need what 
they ask; and whether or not God has pro- 
mised it. Indeed, so inconsistent are some, 
that I have heard them pray most devoutly, 
to all appearance, for holiness, while, at the 
same time, they denied its attainableness. But 
as you wish to be consistent and scriptural, 
let us search the Scriptures that we may see 
what they teach, and I think you will be per- 
suaded that nothing can have a firmer basis 
than has our faith for this great blessing. 
Let us, therefore, look at the promises and 
precepts that are left on record for our en- 
couragement. And before we do so it may 
be proper to say that, in Scripture, this state 
has various names : as The being perfect in 
Christ Jesus — Loving God with all the heart 
—Holiness, &c. Indeed, I believe the term 
most frequently used in Scripture to express 
3* 



30 LETTERS ON 

it is, perfection or perfect love. We have a 
right to take encouragement from the COm- 
mands of Almighty God, as well as from his 
promises; for, we cannot think that a just 
and holy God would require of us a service 
which it is impossible for us to render; so 
that we may safely infer that whatever he 
requires of us he will give us grace to per- 
form. 

But, lest we should be discouraged by 
looking at the precepts alone, we will con- 
sider them in connection with the promises. 
Deut. vi. 4, 5, we find it recorded: "Hear, 
Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord: and 
thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all 
thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with 
all thy might." Again, Deut. x. 12, 13: "And 
now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God re- 
quire of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, 
and to walk in all his ways, and to love him, 
and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy 
heart, and with all thy soul, to keep the com- 
mandments of the Lord, and his statutes, 
which I command thee this day for thy 
good?" "Serve him (God) with a perfect 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 31 

heart, and with a willing mind: for the Lord 
searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all 
the imaginations of the thought." — 1st Chron. 
xxviii. 9. "0 Jerusalem, wash thy heart 
from wickedness — how long shall thy vain 
thoughts lodge within thee?" — Jer. iv. 14. 
And lest you should think that these are Old 
Testament precepts, and belong only to that 
dispensation under which they were given, 
hear what our Lord Jesus Christ himself 
says : " Think not that I am come to destroy 
the law or the prophets : I am not come to 
destroy, but to fulfil; and I say unto you, 
Love your enemies, bless them that curse 
you, do good to them that hate you, and 
pray for them that despitefully use you, and 
persecute you, &c. — Be ye therefore perfect, 
even as your Father who is in heaven is per- 
fect." — Matt. v. 17, 44, 48. Again, hear an 
apostle: "But as he that hath called you is 
holy, be ye holy in all manner of conversa- 
tion; because it is written, Be ye holy; for 
I am holy." — 1st Peter i. 15, 16. Another 
apostle exhorts us thus: "Therefore, leaving 



32 LETTERS ON 

the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us 
go on to perfection." — Heb. vi. 1. 

Let us, now, look at the promises. "The 
Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart, and 
the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy 
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, 
that thou mayest live." — Deut. xxx. 6. If 
you are ready to say this promise was given 
to the Jews, and belonged especially to the 
seed of Abraham, hear what the apostle Paul 
saith: "Know, therefore, that they which are 
of faith, the same are the children of Abraham 
— For ye are all one in Christ Jesus (Jews 
and Gentiles). And if ye be Christ's, then 
are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according 
to the promise." — Gal. iii. 7, 28, 29. Here 
we see that faith, and not lineal descent, gives 
the claim to the promise. Again: "After 
those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law 
in their inward parts, and write it in their 
hearts, and will be their God, and they shall 
be my people." — Jer. xxxi. 33. "I will give 
them one heart, and I will put a new Spirit 
within you ; and I will take the stony heart 
out of their flesh, and will give them an heart 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 33 

of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes, 
and keep mine ordinances, and do them." — 
Bzek. xi. 19, 20. " Then will I sprinkle clean 
water upon you, and ye shall be clean : from 
all your filthiness and from all your idols will 
I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give 
you, and a new spirit will I put within you; 
and I will take away the stony heart out of 
your flesh, and I will give you an heart of 
flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, 
and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye 
shall keep my judgments, and do them." — 
Bzek. xxxvi. 25, 26, 27. This promise is 
exceedingly full; and it is to the latter day 
glory, or gospel dispensation, that we are to 
look for its fulfilment in all its fulness, as 
you will see by examining the following 
Scriptures. The Prophet Isaiah, in speaking 
of the Saviour, says: "His visage was so 
marred more than any man, and his form 
more than the sons of men, so shall he 
sprinkle many nations." — Isa. lii. 14, 15. 
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he 
hath raised up an horn of salvation for us — 
as he spake by the mouth of his holy pro- 



34 LETTERS ON 

phets — that we, being delivered from the 
hands of our enemies, might serve him, with- 
out fear, in holiness and righteousness before 
him all the days of our life, was the language 
of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, 
when he was filled with the Holy Ghost, and 
prophesied of the Saviour's kingdom which 
was just at hand: and we know that that is 
a spiritual kingdom, and is to be set up in 
the hearts of believers; and the enemies of 
that kingdom from whom the Lord's people 
are to be delivered are spiritual enemies: all 
those affections and lusts which "war against 
the soul." Our Lord, when he taught the 
multitude on the mount, said: "Blessed are 
they which do hunger and thirst after righte- 
ousness, for they shall be filled." — Matt. v. 6. 
And to the woman of Samaria he said: "If 
thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is 
that saith unto thee give me to drink; thou 
wouldst have asked of him, and he would 
have given thee living water. — But, whoso- 
ever drinketh of the water that I shall give 
him shall never thirst; but the water that I 
shall give him, shall be in him a well of water, 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 35 

springing up into everlasting life." — John iv. 
10, 14. Again, in the last and great day of the 
feast (of tabernacles), Jesus stood and cried, 
saying: "If any man thirst, let him come 
unto me and drink" — But this he spake of 
the Spirit which they that believe on him 
should receive; and which they did receive 
after his glorification. — See John vii. 37 — 39, 
and the 2d chapter of Acts. 

Through the whole of our Saviour's mi- 
nistry he directed his disciples to look for 
the fulfilment of the great promise of the 
Father in the outpourings of the Spirit that 
would follow his ascension. The last hours 
he spent with them, previous to his passion, 
were spent in conversing on this subject, and 
in praying for this very blessing on them, and 
all believers. See John 16th and 17th chap. 
And when they were, according to his com- 
mand, assembled, with one accord, in one 
place, after the ascension of their Lord, wait- 
ing for the promise, the first remarkable out- 
pouring of the Holy Ghost was given: and 
as the people were all amazed, and wondered 
what this thing meant, Peter assured them, 



36 LETTERS ON 

it was the fulfilment of that which God had 
spoken by the mouth of his prophets ; and 
that this was the opening of that glorious 
dispensation which had been so long the sub- 
ject of prophecy: at the same time declaring 
that the gift of the Holy Ghost was promised 
not only to those who now received it, but 
to them, and to their children, and to all that 
are afar off — the whole Gentile world. 

Yes, glory be to God! "We both have ac- 
cess, through him, by one Spirit unto the 
Father, and are no more strangers and 
foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, 
and of the household of God." — Bph. ii. 18, 
19. 

Having enlarged and clear views of the 
extent and fulness of the promise, the apos- 
tle Paul offered that excellent and compre- 
hensive prayer for the Philippian Church 
which is recorded in the first chapter of his 
Epistle to that Church: a part of which is: 
" That ye may be sincere, and without offence 
till the day of Christ; Being filled with the 
fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus 
Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 3T 

Mark his phraseology here: Being filled with 
the fruits of righteousness — no room left for 
the fruit of lust, which, according to James 
i. and 15, is sin. For the Ephesian Church 
he prays, that Christ may dwell in yonr 
hearts by faith, that ye, being rooted and 
grounded in love — might be filled with all 
the fulness of God. And after this prayer, 
that is so comprehensive that our most capa- 
cious thoughts cannot grasp all it implies, he 
declares the God, to whom we address our pe- 
titions, to be "able to do exceeding abund- 
antly above all that we ash or think, according 
to the power that worketh in us." — Bph. iii. 
17—20. 

Oh that we would cease to limit his power! 
That our faith would take hold of his Om- 
nipotence! But, hear this inspired apostle 
again on the subject of Christian perfection. 
I love to hear him on it; his views of Christ- 
ian privileges are so large, so clear; just like 
those of a man who had received the gospel, 
"not by man, nor of men," as he tells us, "but 
by Jesus Christ, and God the Father." 

To the Thessalonians he writes: "The very 
4 



38 LETTERS ON 

God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I 
pray God that your whole spirit, and soul, 
and body be preserved blameless unto the 
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Here the 
whole man is included — the material, and the 
immaterial — to whatever distinctions, or sub- 
tility man's philosophy may resort in defin- 
ing man, the apostle here covers the whole 
ground ; for the entire individual is com- 
prised in soul, and spirit, and body; and all 
this his inspired prayer would have sanctified 
wholly. And after it is so sanctified his 
prayer continues: "I pray God that your 
whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved 
blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus 
Christ." And lest they should think, in the 
warmth of apostolic zeal and in the. glowing 
fervor of a father's prayer for his spiritual 
children, he had exceeded the bounds of pro- 
priety, he adds: "Faithful is he that calleth 
you, who also will do it." — 1st Thessal. v. 
23, 24. John says: "If we confess our sins, 
he (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our 
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- 
ness." — 1st John i. 9. He also suspends it 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 39 

oh the divine faithfulness, which would not 
be pledged if no promise to that effect had 
been made. 

But were I to adduce all the Scriptures on 
which our faith may rest, I might transcribe 
the greater part of the Bible; for, it appears 
to me, this whole revelation of God to man, 
by precept, example, and promise, enforces 
holiness. Holiness was included in the first 
promise made to the offending pair: "The 
seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's 
head;" and the last revelation of Jesus Christ 
through his servant John is wound up with 
a most cheering invitation to come and accept 
of this grace. "The Spirit and the bride 
say, come. And let him that heareth say, 
come. And let him that is athirst come. 
And whosoever will, let him take the water 
of life freely." — Eev. xxii. 17. 

O my sister, this precious doctrine is a 
Bible truth! It is not a beautiful fiction; 
but, a divine reality. It presents to us a 
most delightful prospect; but, it does not 
dazzle to deceive ; neither does it excite in 
ns longings for something that is beyond our 



40 LETTERS ON 

reach. The promises of the Father, the 
teachings, prayers, and sacrificial death of the 
Son, and the exhortations and prayers of 
those he commissioned to proclaim his gos- 
pel, all prove that it is within our reach. 
Yea, the word of faith is nigh thee — in thy 
month, and in thy heart. Oh! then put it 
not from thee; hold it fast as a precious boon, 
and the faith shall bring the power to be 
whole. Let your faith cling to the promise, 
and wait its fulfilment, and you will soon be 
able, with "the new heart of love, and the 
new tongue of praise," to give the glory to 
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 41 



LETTER IV. 

Satan presents seeming discouragements — There are no 
real discouragements — Faith will triumph over all 
opposition — If allowed to exert its omnipotence, it 
will certainly bring the power that " slays the dire 
root and seed of sin," &c. 

My Dear Friend : — 

I am aware that notwithstanding all 
the encouragement which the Bible affords, 
Satan will take advantage of our natural 
proneness to unbelief, and will present seem- 
ing discouragements. I say seeming, for 
they are no more; there exists no real dis- 
couragement. How can there, when the 
whole. Trinity has undertaken the work? 
Can you suppose for a moment that any part 
of the plan of salvation will prove a failure? 
"His name shall be called Jesus," said the 
angel, "for he shall save his people from 
their sins." — Matt. i. 21. And he became God 
manifest in the flesh, that he might destroy 
4* 



42 LETTERS ON 

the works of the devil. Could you for a 
moment suppose that he undertook what he 
could not accomplish, or that he would be- 
come weary, and give the matter up before 
it was accomplished ? I am sure you would 
not admit such a supposition. Oh no! "The 
Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, 
fainteth not, neither is weary ;" and he that 
trod the winepress alone, is the one who 
"speaks in righteousness mighty to save." 
Then you may say, in view of every obstacle 
that Satan presents — 

"My soul in confidence shall rise, 
Shall rise, and break through all." 

Nothing is wanted but our co-operation. 

But you will say, He died for all mankind, 
and designed saving all, though we have rea- 
son to believe many will be lost. To this I 
reply, he came to open a way of salvation for 
all, so that God could be just, and the justi- 
fier of every sinner that believeth in Jesus ; 
but, he did not come to force any one, irre- 
sistibly, into this way. He came to procure 
a free pardon, and a day of probation, with 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 43 

offers of mercy for every one; but not to 
force any one to accept this pardon and sal- 
vation. He ascended up into heaven, to send 
his Spirit to awaken, and convince, and sanc- 
tify, and seal those who would be led by his 
influences; but if, in their stiff-neckedness and 
their rebellion, they resist the Holy Ghost, he 
did not design forcing them into submission 
by an irresistible decree; at least, so far as 
he has revealed his designs to us. What he 
came to do, he has accomplished, and the 
loss of myriads proves, not a failure in the 
accomplishment of his purpose, though he 
willed their salvation. He provided for their 
salvation, and offers it to all — he proclaims 
liberty to all the captives, whom sin and 
Satan have enslaved; but, those who prefer 
their chains can keep them, and let them 
drag them down to eternal darkness; while 
those who accept the liberty shall find that, 
"whom the Son makes free, they are free 
indeed." Free from the dominion of sin ; free 
from its guilt; free from its defilement: "So 
that as sin abounded, grace does much more 
abound ;" and as when they were the servants 



44 LETTERS ON 

of sin, all their fruit was unto death, so, when 
all the powers are consecrated to God, and 
brought under the sanctifying influence of 
his Spirit, their fruit will be unto holiness. 

You remember I have always said that 
entire consecration and faith are necessary 
on our part. Now, that you desire to make 
this consecration, Satan tries to discourage 
you, and thus hinder you from exercising 
faith; and here it is that I say you may con- 
fidently and boldly assert, in the very face, 
as it were, of your adversary, when you bring 
your offering to God, I know it will be ac- 
cepted and purified. And if he heap up one 
discouragement upon another until a moun- 
tain is formed, you may say: " O great moun- 
tain, who art thou? before our Zerubbabel 
thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring 
forth and place on the headstone, with shout- 
ings of grace, grace unto it." He can and he 
will enable you to stand up in all the dignity 
and beauty of a "temple of the Holy Ghost;' 7 
or, if we change the figure and adopt another 
apostolic one, this all-conquering faith will 
enable us to go forth, led on by the Captain 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 45 

of your salvation, until, instead of from grace 
to grace, it shall be from glory unto glory. 

Oh, my sister, as we look at it the prospect 
brightens; it is heaven here, and the eternal 
fruition of glory hereafter! Oh, then- — 

"Urge on jour rapid course — 
The heavenly kingdom suffers force ; 
'Tis seized by violent hands." 

Let these hindrances only cause you to rush 
with greater determination until you reach 
the open arms of your crucified and risen 
Saviour. Press your way through the crowd, 
and a believing touch will bring virtue out 
of him that shall make you perfectly whole 
of the plague of inbred sin. If any keep 
you from crying after him, cry out the more, 
"Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on 
me!" 

" Slay the dire root and seed of sin, 
Prepare for thee the holiest place ; 
Then, essential, love come in, 
And fill thy house with endless praise." 

And he that shall come will come, and will 
not tarry ; he will cast out every buyer and 



46 LETTERS ON 

seller; he will erect his throne, destroy his 
enemies, and bring down every imagination 
that would exalt itself against him. 

" So shall you bless Ms pleasing sway, 
And, sitting at his feet, 
His laws with all your heart obey, 
With all your soul submit." 

O what a crucifixion of self you shall ex- 
perience! What a sweet sinking into the 
will of God ! How deep will be your sense 
of your own nothingness; and how full and 
clear your apprehension of the fulness there 
is in Christ, and your entire dependence upon 
him, and his perfect adaptation to all your 
wants! So that you will feel he is your all 
m all, to an extent of which you now have 
but little conception. May this soon be your 
happy experience! 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 47 



LETTER V. 

The difference between saving faith and the faith we 
are daily exercising is in the objects to which they 
relate — We err in mystifying faith — The difference 
between general and appropriating faith — How the 
Spirit assists our faith, and thus increases it — Errors 
in praying for faith as the consequence of mistaken 
notions of it — An anecdote — The omnipotence of 
faith, &c. 

My Dear Friend : — 

I cannot see that there is any difference 
between ordinary faith, or that faith which 
we daily exercise, and the faith that brings 
salvation, except in the objects to which they 
relate. I think we are apt to involve our- 
selves in great difficulties by attaching the 
idea of a mysterious something, we scarcely 
know what, to what is termed appropriating 
faith. We can very easily understand the 
nature of that confidence with which a child 
comes to a kind parent for the supply of any 



48 LETTERS ON 

want which he feels, when he knows that 
the parent has the means of supplying the 
want, and that he regards the thing desired 
as necessary and proper, and not sought after 
by the cravings of a morbid appetite. Or 
if a kind and judicious parent has promised 
to his child, that at a certain time he will 
bestow upon him something which the child 
very much desires, how full is his expecta- 
tion of receiving it! Would anything that 
might be said to discourage him prevent him 
from coming at the appointed time to his 
father for the promised gift ? No ; he would 
turn away indignantly from the individual 
who would attempt to shake his confidence in 
his father's word ; he is too fully assured that 
he has not disappointed him in the past, and 
has too much confidence in his word to be- 
lieve that he will disappoint him now. This, 
then, is the faith that we are to exercise in 
coming to God for anything that he has pro- 
mised. 

Appropriating faith may be distinguished 
from general faith thus : general faith recog- 
nizes Christ as coming into the world to save 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 49 

sinners, purchasing pardon and holiness for 
mankind, and freely offering this salvation to 
all who will accept it on his terms ; but ap- 
propriating faith says, he has purchased for, 
and promised these blessings to me. I feel 
my need of a pure heart ; I am willing to 
make any sacrifice that he requires (by his 
grace assisting me), in order to attain to it ; 
therefore, I know I shall receive it, because 
God hath promised it. Yea, it goes further 
still. It says, in the language of the Christ- 
ian poet — 

" Saviour, to thee my soul looks up, 
My present Saviour thou ! 
In all the confidence of hope, 
I claim the blessing novi" 

And when this is the language of his faith, 
there is no doubt his next exclamation will 
be— 

" 'Tis done ; thou dost this moment save, 
With full salvation bless ; 
Redemption through thy blood I have,, 
And spotless love and peace." 

But you think we are not always, nor, per- 
haps, at any time, of ourselves, capable of 
5 



50 LETTERS ON 

exercising such strong faith. I think we are 
not so incapable of exercising it as we are 
apt to suppose. We can exercise very strong 
faith in a tried friend, why not in God ? The 
act of the mind is the same in both cases ; 
and we admit man, in his best estate, is falli- 
ble, and say God is infallible. Why, then, 
can we not reject, with the same contempt, 
any suggestions that would hinder us from 
heartily embracing the promise of God, that 
we would insinuations that tend to weaken 
our confidence in our well tried friend ? If 
we have clear apprehension of the nature of 
the blessing that we seek, and of the time in 
which we are to expect it, and see that our 
faith has a proper foundation on which to 
rest, I know not what is to hinder us from 
believing for it at the time in which it is 
promised. You will, no doubt, be ready to 
ask me, Is not faith the gift of God; and did 
not the disciples pray, "Lord, increase our 
faith?" Why, then, do you say we may 
believe if we will? To this I answer, the 
power that the mind possesses of performing 
any act is the gift of God, and we may very 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 51 

properly ask him to strengthen it; and it is 
the Divine Spirit alone that can give us cor- 
rect views of the nature of what we are re- 
quired to believe for, and can strongly impress 
our minds with the fact that God has promised 
those things, so that we have a Divine con- 
viction that God has promised the thing we 
desire; that what he has promised he will 
perform ; yea, that he does perform it now, 
while we ask, because he has promised, who 
cannot lie. Satan and our unbelieving hearts 
raise many objections when we would try 
thus to appropriate to ourselves the blessings 
of redemption, and we are dull to perceive 
the answer to those objections, and so we are 
hindered from believing by not being fully 
satisfied of the firm foundation on which our 
faith may rest ; the Divine Spirit shows us 
the answer to those objections, clears up the 
difficulty by showing us the firm basis on 
which our faith can rest, and thus increases 
our faith by enabling us to surmount the ob- 
stacles that may be thrown in the way to 
hinder us from believing. I readily admit 
that, unassisted by the Holy Spirit, we cannot 



52 LETTERS ON 

do any good thing; and I keep this in view 
when I speak of our capability; but I hold 
that this Spirit is ever present to help us. 
That whenever we will take up the word of 
God, and carefully and prayerfully examine 
the promises that we may apply them, and 
believe for their fulfilment, or study the pre- 
cepts that we may seek grace to walk in them, 
he is present, unfolding to us the mysteries 
of redemption, and illumining its every page, 
so that we see God in his own light. It is 
ours, therefore, to examine this subject care- 
fully, and when we see that the word of Je- 
hovah is pledged, we should resolutely believe, 
rejecting, as contemptible, every suggestion 
that may be made to hinder us. No doubt 
Satan will suggest, you believe just because 
vou will believe. And did not Abraham 
believe thus? Yes, he believed, when at the 
command of God his hand was lifted up to 
slay his son, that God would, of this very 
Isaac, raise up a great nation, and that in him 
all the nations of the earth should be blessed; 
and he rested his faith on just what I would 
have yours rest, the promises of God. Ap- 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 53 

pearances were against him, but the promise 
stood — and, says an apostle, "He believed 
him faithful who had promised." You may, 
therefore, reply, I am determined that nothing 
shall hinder me from resting in the word 
of God, and waiting its fulfilment. This is 
the faith that brings the blessing, and the 
reason any are kept without it who are will- 
ing to make the sacrifice is, they are not will- 
ing to rest in the naked promise. If God 
would give them the blessing first, then 
they could believe; but this would not be 
believing for it. "We must believe for it in 
ordef to get it, and then we can believe we 
have it when we feel its power. 

Again, some think if God would make 
such an impression on their minds as would 
exclude the possibility of doubting, this 
would be giving them faith ; but to venture 
on the promise alone, and to say, in defiance 
of every unbelieving suggestion, it must be 
fulfilled, is more than they are willing to do ; 
and so they keep praying for more faith, and 
will not make that effort to believe which is 
at all times within their power. Now, I 
5* 



54 LETTERS ON 

think, if God would give us the blessing 
without believing for it, we would have as 
much difficulty in believing that what he 
gave us was the thing desired, as we have in 
believing for it. 

The way of faith is perfectly simple; it is 
God's way, and we may be sure it is the best. 
It is the only way to the desired end; all who 
have tried it testify it leads direct to rest in 
Christ; all who say this rest, if to be found 
at all, is only to be reached by travelling 
through long and circuitous windings, have 
to confess that they have neither tried the 
way we recommend, nor found the rest. Let 
us beware, lest it might be said of us, when 
we are praying for faith, "ye know not what 
ye ask." In all our addresses to the throne 
of grace, let us be definite; that is, let us 
clearly understand what we ask, and use no 
words for which we have not determinate 
ideas; and let us be careful that what we ask is 
promised, and promised for the time in which 
we seek it, or else we will get wide of the 
mark. It was Israel's fault, said an eminent 
divine, that they looked for signs. Let us 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 55 

require no sign but the precious promise. I 
have read of a lady who was seeking the 
blessing of justification, and after she had 
sought it for some time and had not found it, 
she began to inquire into the cause; exam- 
ining the workings of her mind, she disco- 
vered that unbelief was the hindrance. She 
then set apart a day to pray for the faith that 
brings the blessing, determining to spend the 
whole day in prayer for this faith, should it 
be necessary. She did spend the day thus, 
and at the close of it found that her faith 
was not increased. Almost exhausted and 
somewhat discouraged, she looked up to God 
as her only refuge, and said, Lord, I have 
been praying all day for more faith, and I 
don't see that I have got any more than I 
had in the morning; but thou canst save me 
with the faith I have. That moment she re- 
ceived the desired blessing. There was the 
way the Holy Spirit increased her faith ; he 
showed her she had faith enough if she would 
only venture; and let us pray for faith as 
long as we will, we shall have to mourn our 
depravity until we look up and say, Lord 



56 LETTERS ON 

Jesus, thy blood can cleanse me now, just as 
I am, with the faith I have. True, it is weak, 
but it grasps the promise, and rests on it ; 
and will not let it go. 

0, my sister, be not afraid of venturing 
too much on the word of God! Honor your 
Saviour by believing every word that drop- 
ped from his lips; and, if on him you dare 
rely, the faith will bring the power to do 
whatever he commands you. The smallest 
grain of faith takes hold of omnipotence, 
and becomes mighty. Then, in all your ad- 
dresses to the throne of grace say, Lord, it is 
thy word ; thou hast bid me ask, therefore 
I expect to receive; so shall you find your 
faith strengthened by exercise, until you can 
say, "I can do all things through Christ, 
which strengtheneth me." 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 57 



LETTER VI. 

Satan opposes our spiritual progress — Faith overcomes 
hini — Personal experience of the powers of faith — 
This is the dispensation of the Spirit, &c. &c. 

My Dear Sister : — 

I rejoice to find you are beginning to 
discover the simplicity of faith ; and I am 
not at all surprised that your ever-watchful 
enemy has taken the alarm, and is determined 
to contend with you for every inch of ground 
that you gain. But fear not; Jehovah Jesus 
is the captain of your salvation. Hold fast 
the shield of faith in his name, and you shall 
do valiantly. You need not fear, " Though 
an host should encamp against you" — 

" You have a shield can quell their rage, 
And drive the alien armies back ; 
Portrayed it bears a bleeding Lamb, 
You dare believe in Jesus' name." 

And this name is salvation. "He came to 
save his people from their sins." Oh what 



58 LETTERS ON 

a great salvation! Well might angels desire 
to look into this wondrous scheme of man's 
redemption. Should not we meditate upon 
it until our souls become enraptured with 
the glorious theme, and we catch the thrill- 
ing inspiration of Divine love, which shall 
melt our hearts in gratitude, and tune our 
lips to the high praises of him who stooped 
to look upon us in our low estate, and to 
raise us into his image and fellowship? O 
Lamb of God! was ever love like thine? 
No, never! and yet how prone we are to for- 
get it. Have mercy upon us, and pardon 
our stupidity! 

My sister, every effort we make to believe 
gives us an advantage over Satan, and ad- 
vances us a step higher in Christian attain- 
ment. Let us never forget this. The ene- 
my retreats before every believing effort we 
make, and we take possession of higher van- 
tage ground. 

To encourage your faith, and to stimulate 
its exercise, I will give you some extracts 
from manuscripts written by one who had 
considerable use for this blessed shield, and 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 59 

who proved its value on many occasions. 
On one occasion she writes thus : — 

"This day I have enjoyed the Sabbath; 
and, oh what a Sabbath it has been ! In the 
evening, before going to church, I was en- 
gaged in private devotional exercises, when 
my mind became suddenly solemnized by 
the thought that I was about to engage in 
the last public service of the last Sabbath of 
the old year. I lifted my heart in prayer to 
God, that it might be the richest season of 
enjoyment in the whole year. Immediately 
it was suggested, look at the rich seasons you 
have had during the year; and to look for 
more, oh how absurd! Your heart has been 
filled many times; how could you have more? 
To this I immediately replied, Yes, bless the 
Lord, I have often been filled, but my soul 
is capable of enlargement; my largest desires 
have been satisfied with his fulness, but the 
clearer views of God and my privilege in 
the gospel I receive, the more capacious are 
my desires after him; and there is an infinite 
fulness in my Eedeemer; therefore, I may 
have my most enlarged desires satisfied, I 



60 LETTERS ON 

may have more than on any former occasion, 
and I shall, for my Lord has said, I shall be 
satisfied. He sets no bounds to my enjoy- 
ment of his love; his promise is, ye shall ask 
what ye will and it shall be done unto you, 
only ask believing. I went to church en- 
couraged, and full of expectation. I engaged 
in the service with delight as usual; the Lord 
blessed me at prayer, as he was wont to do ; 
but I believed I would receive a larger mea- 
sure before I should leave the house. The 
minister proceeded in his sermon, and my 
heart continued very much, engaged with 
God, and every moment expecting an out- 
pouring of his Spirit. Many were the argu- 
ments that Satan brought against me; but I 
instantly rejected them all. I was deter- 
mined I would believe my Lord's word, and 
prove his faithfulness. It was suggested, You 
have been blessed while waiting, you ought 
to be satisfied; you are unthankful; if the 
Lord was going to give you more he would 
have given it while you were at prayer. My 
heart replied, I do praise the Lord; he is mine, 
and I am his! He is blessing me, for which 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 61 

I praise him; but I know lie will manifest 
himself to me more fully, and I shall praise 
him yet more. The enemy then suggested, If 
the Lord would bless you as you desire, some 
effect would be produced on your body 'that 
would attract the attention of those around; 
or, you would be constrained to manifest your 
feelings in such a manner as would lead people 
to think you were getting into those wild 
extravagancies which you think make no 
part of religion; and you would sooner let 
the blessing go, than have any person to 
think you are getting into extravagance of 
that kind. To this my heart replied, Lord, 
thou knowest what I want is more love, and 
I care not whether thou comest in a mighty 
rushing wind, or whisper in a still small 
voice; I prescribe not the manner. The ser- 
mon was over — the last prayer nearly closed, 
when it was suggested, You may turn your 
thoughts from that now, perhaps it will come 
after you go home; but the service here is 
nearly closed, there remains not time for you 
to receive it now. My soul was in a very 
comfortable state, but still expecting; and I 
6 



62 LETTERS ON 

replied, If it be in the last moment, I shall 
receive it before I leave this house. Time 
is nothing to my Lord ; he can do the work 
of a thousand years, yea, of ten thousand, in 
a moment. And while I thus waited, nearly 
at the very close of the last prayer, my 
heart was constrained to say, He is come! 
he is come ! and glory unutterable filled my 
soul. No ecstasy, no sensible effect pro- 
duced on my body, but an overwhelming 
sense of his love to me, and mine to him. 
Truly, my heart was 'all praise, all meekness, 
and all love.' Glory to God, I know that, 
much as I have received during the year, it 
was not too much to ask my Lord to let me 
have more ; there can be no presumption in 
this since his offers are so free and so full. Oh 
yes! I shall have more, and still more until 
death is swallowed up in victory, and glory 
eternal bursts on my enraptured vision ; and 
even then I shall go on, receiving more of 
those emanations of the Deity long as eternal 
ages roll. Bless the Lord, my soul!" 

Here, my friend, you see what a struggle 
was to be engaged in, and kept up for some 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 63 

time ; how firmly faith had to grasp the pro- 
mise, and hold to it; how resolutely it was 
necessary to believe in this case, and how 
perseveringly ! But oh what a glorious vic- 
tory — how worth contending for ! 

On another occasion the same person 
writes : — 

"My soul has lately been watered from 
on high. I feel that the language of praise 
does belong to me, and blessed be God, it 
flows spontaneously from my heart ! I had 
a precious season while waiting on God last 
evening in his house; my soul was greatly 
blessed; and this morning I had great near- 
ness to God in private prayer: but I am look- 
ing for a greater baptism from on high. The 
Holy Spirit is my indwelling, abiding com- 
forter, but — I was going to write, but I am 
looking for him to bring into my soul more 
of the fulness of salvation. But glory, eter- 
nal glory be to his holy name, I can now 
praise him for the possession of what I was 
going to express my desire after. I was in- 
terrupted in my writing by his filling my 
heart unutterably fall of glory and of God. 



64 LETTERS ON 

Oh he is mine — the ever blessed Trinity is 
mine to all eternity ! What shall I render 
unto him for all his benefits to me ? where 
shall I begin his praise? Will not ye, O 
heavenly host, who wait upon him continu- 
ally, and who rejoice over a redeemed sinner, 
strike a higher note of praise on my behalf? 
Assist me, ye heavenly powers, to cele- 
brate the praises of him my soul loteth I" 

" The Father shining on his throne, 
The glorious co-eternal Son ; 
The Spirit, one and seven, 
Conspire our rapture to complete ; 
And lo ! we fall before his feet, 
And silence heightens heaven." 

Yes, glory to God! I soon shall be per- 
mitted to cast myself at his feet, and in ador- 
ing gratitude and wonder to — 

" Shout by turns the bursting joy, 
And all eternity employ, 
In songs around his throne." 

Here you see a believing look brought the 
blessing down before the desire for it could 
be committed to paper, and prayer was 
turned to praise. that this realizing faith 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 65 

were more constantly exercised ! We are too 
prone to confine such Pentecostal showers 
to the days of the apostles, when the dis- 
pensation of the Spirit was opened, or to 
some other remarkably reviving periods, 
when God, seeing that pure religion is scarce- 
ly to be found in the church, but that men 
have substituted for it a dead form, raises 
up faithful men, as he did the Wesleys and 
their coadjutors, and eminently qualifies 
them for the work of reviving, instrument- 
ally, pure religion in the earth ; but we see 
in these instances, as in many others, that 
faith in God produces, in all time, the same 
glorious results; and though we are often 
ready to say, if our Lord come, shall he find 
faith upon the earth ? We may rest assured 
that though the state of the church is far 
from being what we would desire, there is to 
be found in it very many who know that the 
glorious dispensation which was opened on 
the day of Pentecost, is the one under which 
we live ; and that they who now wait for the 
promise of the Father receive it, as did those 
on that day ; and if he does not sit on them 
6* 



66 LETTERS ON 

as cloven tongues of fire, he enables them, 
as Mr. Fletcher beautifully expresses it, "to 
glorify God with the new heart of love, and 
the new tongue of praise." They feel all its 
hallowing effects, and can pass through the 
world loving God with all their hearts, and 
their neighbor as themselves. And though 
the worldling and the half-hearted professor 
often say, Where are such to be found ? their 
blessed Master can find them, perhaps, where 
those never think of looking for them. He 
said to his disciples, "In that day ye shall 
know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, 
and I in you ;" and these know the blessed 
day is come, and are not at all surprised that 
the world knows them not, since it knew not 
their Master, nor could see in the despised 
Nazarene, "the mighty God, the everlasting 
Father, the Prince of Peace." "Their lives 
are hid with Christ in God," but "when he 
shall come to be glorified in his saints, and 
to be admired in all them that believe," they 
will be known, for they "shall appear with 
him in glory." He will then confess them 
before an assembled universe — angels and 






CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 67 

men; and he will present them to his Father 
as the trophies of his victory, redeemed from 
among men, and bearing his likeness. In 
the mean time you may pray — 

"Make up thy jewels, Lord, and show 
Thy glorious, spotless church below ; 
The fellowship of saints make known, 
And, my God, may I be one ! 

"Oh might my lot be cast with these, 
The least of Jesus' witnesses ; 
Oh that my Lord would count me meet 
To wash his dear disciples' feet !" 

is the prayer of your friend. 



68 LETTERS ON 



LETTER VII. 

Distrust of God a common temptation — God does not 
willingly afflict his people, though he sometimes 
leads them through great tribulation — It is import- 
ant that we have the spirit of sacrifice — Resignation 
not stoical indifference — Personal experience of the 
sweetness of resignation — Religion hinders none of 
our rational enjoyment of the blessings of this life — 
Christ the common centre where all Christians meet, 
&c. &c. 

My Dear Friend : — 

You are not alone in the temptation of 
which you speak; it is one that has tried 
every Christian, I suppose, that has made 
the subject of entire consecration one of seri- 
ous consideration. It is a grand trick of the 
enemy to present to such the crosses they 
will have to bear ; the innumerable difficul- 
ties with which they will have to contend ; 
as if the God of infinite love delighted in 
making his people miserable; and the more 
so, the greater is their devotedness to him. 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 69 

It is the great adversary himself that tells 
you, as soon as you hold your dearest friends 
as gifts from him, that he has a right to with- 
draw when he sees proper, they will be taken 
from you. Our Heavenly Father will with- 
hold no good thing from them that walk up- 
rightly. Sometimes he sees it necessary to 
withhold or withdraw from us what seems to 
us good, and unbelief rebels; but faith says: — 

" G-ood when he gives, supremely good, 
Nor less when he denies ; 
Even crosses, from his sov'reign hand, 
Are blessings in disguise." 

We place ourselves in much greater dan- 
ger of having tender ties severed by retain- 
ing these objects as idols, than by offering 
them to God. In the former case he very 
often takes away the idol that he may have 
the heart. Does this seem selfish in God, as 
wicked unbelief would view it? Let us re- 
member these hearts can do him no good; the 
gain is all purely ours; he is infinitely happy 
without us; but we are fruitlessly seeking 
happiness, and never can find rest but in him. 
So you see, however severe the discipline that 



TO LETTERS ON 

may be necessary to drive us to him, and tear 
our hearts from idols, is an exercise of pure 
love. When we are unwilling to trust him 
with all we hold dear, he sees it is not safe to 
trust us with very much ; we will lose sight of 
the giver in the gift. As for the crosses you 
shall be called to bear, you will not find them 
so heavy, when you come to take them up, as 
they appear in the distance. "Love makes 
all things easy." If we love much, we will 
consider it an honor and privilege to bear 
the cross for him who bore it up Calvary's 
rugged steep for us — who suffered such con- 
tradiction of sinners against himself, when 
"he gave his back to the smiters, and his 
cheek to them that pulled off the hair;" and 
who in all this "bore our griefs, and carried 
our sorrows." The apostle Paul desired to 
know Christ, and the power of his resurrec- 
tion, and the fellowship of his sufferings. 
We are not called to desire suffering, how- 
ever, but we may safely leave ourselves in 
his hands, leaving him to choose for us ease 
or pain, life or death; and need not think 
ourselves nearer being deprived of any bless- 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 11 

ing because we daily and hourly offer our- 
selves, with all we have, to God. When all 
is laid upon the altar, a whole burnt-offering, 
it is holy; it is the Lord's sacrifice, and he 
will take care of it; nevertheless, it is very 
necessary that we have, at all times, that 
spirit of sacrifice which enables us to look 
upon all as God's; and to remember that he 
has a right to take away, as well as to give, 
that we may be saved from murmuring. 
And let us remember that "God is love," and 
that whatever he does, is done in love to us. 
Those John saw before the throne had come 
up through great tribulation; not that their 
Lord took pleasure in afflicting them, but 
a wicked world did ; and Satan sorely as- 
saulted them ; and they, knowing that it is 
enough for the servant to be as his master, 
were willing to follow him to " Pilate's judg- 
ment hall, or to an ignominious Calvary." 
And now that all their toils are past, think 
you do they wish they had been less devoted, 
or think they might have followed their 
Master at a greater distance, made an occa- 
sional compromise with the world, and had 



72 LETTERS ON 

a place assigned them not quite so near the 
throne ? I believe if one of those redeemed 
ones would answer that question he would 
say, that if regrets could be in heaven, it 
would be a source of eternal regret had they 
followed their Master at a greater distance, 
or been less devoted to his cause : but, as it 
is, their faithfulness is an eternal augmenta- 
tion of their happiness. Not because their 
doing or suffering has merited anything, but 
because their faith and obedience has re- 
ceived the promised reward. 

0, my friend, fear not to trust him with 
all you have and are. Offer all to God, and 
then, if anything you love seems about to be 
removed, you may ask him in submission to 
leave it with you a while longer, and he will 
if he sees it proper to do so; but always try 
to have the spirit that meekly bows, and says, 
Lord, not as I will, but as thou wilt. You 
cannot imagine, until you experience it, the 
sweetness of having the will resigned. It 
saves from all distracting care, and brings 
into the soul a holy quiet. Not the indiffer- 
ence of stoicism, but the calm confidence of 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. T3 

one who knows "my Father is at the helm.' 7 
One who had much experience in divine 
things says: "I feel the will of God to be as 
a soft pillow on which I can recline my weary 
head. Eeligion would lose much of its sweet- 
ness if I had to choose for myself, were I ca- 
pable of doing so. Oh how unutterably sweet 
it is to follow the Lord with childlike sim- 
plicity!" On another occasion she says: "I 
see the world as nothing; it has nothing to 
bestow that can for a moment captivate my 
soul. In the ever blessed Trinity alone is 
all good. I feel very grateful to him for the 
blessings of this life which I enjoy; for food, 
raiment, a comfortable home, and endear- 
ing social relationships; these very greatly 
augment my happiness when they are en- 
joyed in God, but not otherwise. 'Tis his 
presence that gives a charm to everything ; 
without it my heart must mourn an aching 
void. But oh! how sweet are the endear- 
ments of social life when enjoyed in God. 
How they inspire gratitude to him who hath 
constituted us social beings, and in his ar- 
rangements has provided for all our wants ! 
7 



74 LETTERS ON 

And to what glorious society will the faithful 
be admitted when they leave the shores of 
time. Yea, even here, what are they not 
promised? 'I and my Father will come,' 
saith the Saviour, 'and make our abode with, 
you.' And again, 'I will pray the Father, 
and he will give you another comforter, that 
he may abide with you forever, even the 
spirit of truth.' Here the whole Deity is 
represented as holding communion with the 
believing soul. But in that upper world, he 
shall see unveiled the glory of the Lord, and 
commune with him face to face. 

' There a day, without night, 
We shall spend in his sight, 
And eternity seem as a day.' " 

Thus, you see, my sister, we lose none of 
the rational enjoyments of life by our con- 
secration to God; on the contrary, we are 
the better fitted for properly enjoying the 
blessings which a God of love has provided 
for us. Many have misrepresented the re- 
ligion of the blessed Jesus, by making the 
impression that we must renounce all the 
enjoyments of this life in order to possess it. 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 75 

True, we must renounce whatever cannot be 
subservient to piety ; whatever conflicts with 
our spiritual interests; but all the rational 
enjoyments of life can be made to subserve 
those interests; and we will find that they 
do, when grace reigns, and love is the main- 
spring of all our actions. 

It is not by excluding ourselves from the 
world, in a cloister, that we are to glorify 
God; it is by " using the world, as not abus- 
ing it;* remembering that the fashion thereof 
passeth away." It is by laboring, in all our 
social relationships, to promote the interests 
of our Saviour's kingdom; and while we en- 
joy the blessings of this life, hold them as 
gifts which the giver has a right to withdraw 
when he pleases, always looking forward to 
a future state of existence for the consumma- 
tion of our bliss. If we enjoy our blessings 
in God, we can never lose them as long as 
we cleave to him. Our friends cannot be 
lost to us, though they may be removed from 

* That is, making a proper use of the good things of 
this life, which God in his providence gives us ; at the 
same time renouncing all the vanities of the world. 



*76 LETTERS ON 

our sight, either by death or some other cir- 
cumstance, if the j and we are in Christ; 
however far we may be separated in body, 
Christ is our centre, and in him we meet. 
How sweet the thought is to those who are 
prevented from seeing the faces of those they 
love! Oh how precious is this union with 
Jesus! In order to this, we must be careful 
that all the unions we form here are formed 
in him. "I am a companion of all them that 
fear the Lord," says the Psalmist, and when 
we choose any other, we forfeit the enjoyment 
that Grod designed for us in constituting us 
social beings, and place ourselves in the way 
of being seduced from Christ. 

My dear friend, delay not to give him all; 
friends, health, wealth, reputation, all you 
have, and all you are, so shall you prove the 
sweetness of this heavenly union. You may 
safely trust him — he is worthy of your full- 
est confidence. Oh that you may speedily 
prove how worthy he is ! 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 77 



LETTER VIII. 

I 

Christian perfection not Adamic — Love is the fulfilling 
of the law — Christ makes an atonement for our im- 
perfections — Continual faith in his blood brings us 
into constant contact with his merits, and renders 
our imperfect service acceptable — Christian perfec- 
tion described — Some of its glorious results referred 
to, &c. 

My Dear Friend:— 

It is with great pleasure I behold your 
increased earnestness in the interesting sub- 
ject on which we have been communicating, 
and your increasing light. Bless God for 
every ray of light you receive, and for every 
desire after conformity to his will which you 
experience, and take encouragement from 
this, to believe that he designs your complete 
restoration to his image. But I would warn 
you against confounding Adamic, or Angelic, 
and Christian perfection. If you do this, 

you will raise the standard so high as to place 

7# 



T8 LETTERS ON 

it beyond your reach. Forget not that the 
law of love is the Christian's law, and that 
he who loves God with all his heart, and his 
neighbor as himself, is the perfect man; for 
"love is the fulfilling of the law." — Eom. xiii. 
10. Now, we are not free from mistakes, 
even when love to God is the mainspring of 
all our actions; and errors in judgment may 
lead us into errors in practice, which would 
have brought Adam into condemnation with 
his perfect judgment, and clear discernment 
of right and wrong. "Sin is a transgression 
of the law of God," and while our passions 
and affections are under the influence of love, 
we will shun the least thing that we know 
God has forbidden; consequently, we will 
not sin. But we may ignorantly transgress 
a known law without condemnation, as in the 
case of Paul with the High Priest (as recorded 
in the 23d chapter of Acts), when he com- 
manded the people to smite him on the 
mouth, when he was making his defence 
against the wicked accusations of the Jews. 
Paul said: "God shall smite thee, thou whited 
wall; for sittest thou to judge me after the 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 19 

law, and commandest me to be smitten con- 
trary to the law?" But on his being re- 
minded of the law that commands reverence 
for the High Priest, he immediately apolo- 
gized, saying: "I wist not, brethren, that he 
was the High Priest." Paul declared the 
judgment of God against this iniquitous 
judge, who, instead of protecting the prisoner 
and giving him a fair hearing, delivered him 
to the insults of the mob, and even com- 
manded them to practise insult "upon hirn ; 
but respect for the office of the priesthood 
would have prevented him from giving such 
a public reproof; at least, such an unceremo- 
nious one. Paul knew the law, but his 
absence from Jerusalem, and the frequent 
political changes there, hindered him from 
knowing the High Priest; so h& incurred no 
guilt in the sight of him who made the law. 
For such errors as this the atonement avails. 
We may not expect to feel that ardor in 
our love to God at all times, which we feel 
at some times; or to feel that energy in his 
service. Yarious natural causes, over which 
we have no control, will operate so as to 



80 LETTERS ON 

produce clulness at times. When tliis is the 
case, and we feel we can appeal to him who 
knows our hearts, that our aim is to serve 
him faithfully, we need not fear; and though 
a view of the imperfection of our best ser- 
vices cause us to feel deep humiliation before 
God, we may comfort ourselves with the 
thought that our Saviour's sacrifice renders 
even these acceptable, when they are, by 
faith, connected with it; and that if faithful, 
we shall, one day, serve and praise him with 
nobler powers. As for those other infirmi- 
ties of our nature, such as errors in judgment, 
failures in memory, or anything else that is 
not a breach of the law of love, the Saviour's 
all-availing sacrifice makes for them a per- 
fect satisfaction. Just think of the apostle's 
argument, as the High Priest once a year 
went into the Holy of Holies, with the blood 
of the sacrifice, to make an atonement, and 
to intercede for the people, so Jesus Christ, 
our great High Priest, continually presents 
the sacrifice of himself, once offered for us; 
and is ever making intercession for us. Now, 
a continual casting ourselves on this atone- 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 81 

merit causes it to be momentarily efficacious 
in rendering us acceptable; so that while we 
are constrained to say — 

" Every moment, Lord, I need 
The merit of thy death ;" 

we may be able, sweetly, to add — 

" Every moment, Lord, I feel 
The merit of thy death." 

Ob this is merit enough ! we need no more. 
"What, if we are all un worthiness — Christ is 
worthy, and he is ours ! Mr. Fletcher says : 
11 Christian perfection is a glorious constella- 
tion, composed of those beautiful stars, per- 
fect repentance, perfect faith, perfect humility, 
perfect meekness, perfect long-suffering, per- 
fect charity for our visible enemies, and for 
our invisible God, of which perfect love is the 
leading star, and so comprises all the rest, 
that it is often used to express the whole." — 
See Fletcher's Polemical Essay on Christian 
Perfection. Perfect humility is a deep and 
abiding sense of our utter unworthiness and 
nothingness before God; that we deserve not 
the least crumb of mercy at his hand; that 



82 LETTERS ON 

our proper place is low at the Saviour's feet, 
in speechless adoration, since lie deigns to 
look upon us in mercy. Yes, it constrains 
us to get very low and say: "Lord, let me 
kiss thy bleeding feet and bathe and wash 
them with my tears!" Self-dependence is 
all gone then, and the individual feels that 
without some other dependence he must 
surely fail. But his perfect faith has hold of 
one who is mighty, and he is his strength. 
It takes hold of the promise, and rests in it ; 
clings to the cross, and exultingly says : — 

"The cross on which he bowed his head, 
Shall lift me to the skies." 

If clouds and darkness arise, it enables its 
possessor to say: Though I walk through 
the valley of the shadow of death, I will 
fear no evil, for thou art with me. Though 
the blessings of thy Providence, which we 
daily enjoy, should be withheld, and famine 
stare me in the face, "yet will I rejoice in 
the Lord, I will joy in the God of my sal- 
vation;" and if deep afflictions visit me, so 
that he seem to slay me, yet will I trust in 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 83 

bim. Perfect meekness enables us to behave 
with gentleness towards all men. It strikes 
at the root of a domineering spirit, and mani- 
fests itself in a condescending, courteous be- 
havior, even when it becomes necessary to 
attack false doctrines; as Paul advised Timo- 
thy in "meekness to instruct those that op- 
pose themselves; if, perad venture, God will 
give them repentance, to the acknowledg- 
ment of the truth." It is that spirit which 
is ever ready to forgive injuries; and to be- 
come all things to all men, so that we may 
glorify God, and save souls. But it will 
yield to no weak, sinful compliance with the 
worldly-minded, for the sake of gaining them; 
neither will it give up any truth of God in 
compliment to men's prejudices or their va- 
nity. No, no! It is a fruit of the Spirit, and 
ever stands firmly on the rock of ages, and 
takes the word of God alone for its compass 
and chart; and is ever ready to wield the 
Lord's weapons in the defence of his truth. 
I am set, said Paul, for the defence of the 
gospel; but all his weapons were spiritual; 
it is alwavs so with Christian meekness. 



84 LETTERS ON 

And perfect long-suffering is kind, Paul tells 
us, even after it has suffered long. Not only 
does it refrain from revenge, but it is ready 
to perform acts of kindness for the offender. 
But what shall I say of charity? This is the 
queen of graces; or, rather, the sum of all the 
graces, as we have shown us in the 13th chap- 
ter of Paul's first Epistle to the Corinthians. 
"This is the image of God, for 'God is love,' 
and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in 
God, and God in him." — 1st John iv. 16. 
"This is the grace that lives and sings," when 
most of the other graces shall have no ex- 
ercise, for "the heaven of heavens is love." 
But why should such an unworthy pen as 
mine attempt to describe it! An angel's 
mind could not fathom its depths profound, 
nor scan its mighty heights, as it exists in its 
infinite source, from which the Christian's 
perfect love is derived. It is an ocean with- 
out bottom or shore, into which you, my 
sister, may plunge and lose yourself; self- 
will, and pride, and love of the world, and 
whatever else is opposed to its nature will be 
drowned, and Jesus Christ will become all in 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS.. 85 

all. Oh what a prospect does this open to us! 
Communion with God here, and the eternal 
fruition of his love hereafter — the peace of 
God which passeth understanding, keeping 
our hearts — the Holy Ghost for an indwell- 
ing, abiding comforter — the Lord God for a 
sun and shield — giving us every good thing 
— causing us to " abide under the shadow of 
the Almighty" — " Giving his angels charge 
over us, to keep us in all our ways" — " Teach- 
ing us to do his will; leading us into the land 
of uprightness" — "Guiding us continually" 
— "Satisfying our souls in drought; causing 
us to be like a watered garden, and like a 
spring of water, the water of which fails not" 
— "Making our walls salvation, and our 
gates praise" — enabling us to "mount up on 
wings as eagles;" to soar above these low 
grounds, where clouds and mists obscure the 
vision; and in the light of the Sun of Eight- 
eousness, and by an eye of faith, to take a 
survey from Pisgah's top, of the land on the 
other side of Jordan. May we not well say: 
"Happy art thou, Israel: who is like unto 
thee, people saved by the Lord, the shield 
8 



86 LETTERS ON 

of thy help, and who is the sword of thy ex- 
cellency !" "Cry out, and shout, inhabitant 
of Zion, for great is the Holy One in the 
midst of thee!' 7 That you, my sister, may 
speedily be brought into the fulness of his 
salvation, is the prayer of 

Your friend. 



LETTER IX. 

Satan's wiles further considered — Our weakness no 
cause of discouragement, since Christ is our strength 
— It is a false humility that would keep us from 
Christ — Exhortations to press on to the enjoyment 
of our privilege, &c. 

My Dear Friend : — 

I see you prove daily that you must 
fight if you will wear either the crown of 
perfect love here, or the crown of glory in 
the world above. But be not dismayed; 
the Captain of your salvation always leads 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 81 

his followers on to certain victory. You say 
you do not distrust him, but you cannot 
trust yourself. You believe him faithful, 
but fear such is your weakness that you will 
fall behind the ranks, and one day be over- 
taken by some enemy and slain ; or that, at 
least, if you should profess yourself willing 
to follow him into the hottest of the battle, 
in the hour of trial your courage would fail, 
and your cowardice bring disgrace on his 
cause, and cause his enemies to triumph. 
This is a very subtle temptation, and carries 
with it the more force, because you feel, as 
you ought to, no confidence in the flesh. You 
see and feel something of your own weakness. 
But let me tell you, you will have clearer 
views, and deeper convictions of your own 
nothingness when you come to feel you "can 
do all things through Christ, who strength- 
ened you," than you will ever have before. 
"When the Christian loses himself in Christ's 
fulness, he sinks into depths unspeakable of 
his own helplessness and unworthiness, and 
of self-abandonment. But here he is not 
discouraged ; for though he is all weakness, 



88 LETTERS ON 

Christ is Almighty power. He can afford to 
be without any self-sufficiency, for the daily 
language of his heart is — 

" Thou, Christ, art all I want, 
More than all in thee I find." 

The promise is, the Lord God will be your 
reward. Fear not, he will supply all needed 
strength — your weakness will recommend 
you to the especial care of him who "car- 
ries the lambs in his bosom." Cleave to him 
now, and give yourself no trouble about 
what you will do in the hour of trial: he will 
take care of that. You may rest assured he 
will never send you a warfare at your own 
charge; and by cleaving to him you will be- 
come strong in his strength, fit for active ser- 
vice. "The battle is not to the strong, nor 
the race to the swift ;" but those who feel that 
they have neither strength to fight, nor wis- 
dom to avoid the enemy, and follow Christ 
as their leader, relying on his wisdom and 
strength, always come off victorious. Now 
this fear of forsaking Christ, or of not main- 
taining our ground, should we get upon high 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 89 

ground, is unbelief; though we are ready to 
think it is not want of confidence in God, but 
in ourselves. If we believe that God will 
enable us to come out boldly on the side of 
true religion, and take a firm stand against 
the allurements of the world, may we not, 
with equal propriety, believe he will enable 
us to maintain our ground, and to walk 
worthy of our high vocation ? Surely we 
may ; and, if we do so, we will have none 
of those fears of dishonoring our profession. 
We must take care of letting our humiliat- 
ing views of ourselves keep "us away from 
Christ. That is a spurious humility, grow- 
ing out of unbelief, that would do so ; but 
the true, which is a fruit of faith, and is the 
effect of proper views of ourselves, instead 
of hindering us from coming to Christ for all 
he has promised, union with the ever-blessed 
Trinity here, and an admittance into eternal 
glory hereafter, almost drives us to him. It 
would run to the bleeding wounds of Jesus 
to escape from our sin and pollution. It is 
so ashamed of our defiled garments, it hast- 
ens to have them made white in the blood 
8* 



90 LETTERS ON 

of the Lamb. When I hear people say, when 
they are pressed to seek after their privilege 
in the gospel, Oh, lam too unworthy, I would 
not dare to expect such high things ; I shall 
be content if I barely get inside of heaven's 
gates at last, I always think, what a pity that 
you do not properly see and feel your un- 
worthiness; for, if you did, you would not 
dare to stay at such a distance from Christ. 
You would fear that the Lord would swear 
in his wrath that one so unworthy would no 
longer be favored with the common blessings 
of life, or the privileges of the gospel ; that 
such a fruitless tree .would no longer be suf- 
fered to cumber the ground ; and you would 
instantly seek to be ingrafted into Christ, the 
living vine, that you might bring forth fruit 
to the glory of God ; and to be fully purged 
that you might bring forth more fruit. Surely 
if people had proper views of their un worthi- 
ness, they would ftot expect to hear the wel- 
come plaudit of " Well done, good and faithful 
servant," after following Christ at so great a 
distance, and serving him in such a cold, 
half-hearted manner. If his most faithful 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 91 

servants feel, as they surely do, that they are 
unprofitable servants, it appears to me, that 
those who never would deny themselves, and 
take up the cross and follow him, must blush 
at being admitted into his presence, and that 
such an interview would not be desirable. 
0, my friend, you have a cunning adversary 
to deal with ; be careful then to search out 
his lurking places, and pray earnestly and 
constantly that you may understand his wiles. 
And, oh, beware of voluntary humility ! It 
has cheated many out of their birthright. 
Be not dismayed, go up and possess the good 
land ; for, in the strength of your Lord, you 
are well able. " He giveth power to the faint" 
— and to them who ask wisdom of him he 
giveth liberally. Be ambitious of rising 
high: — 

" Emulate the angelic choir 
Who only live to love and praise." 

Oh that Almighty God may now kindle a 
pure flame on the mean altar of your heart, 
and that it may burn for his glory with in- 
extinguishable blaze! That the fire of his 



92 LETTERS ON 

love may come down speedily and consume 
whatever of dross remains, and make you a 
temple fitted for the Holy Ghost ! As to 
your being too young to seek after such high 
things, or. at least to expect them ndw, while 
many in the church, and useful persons too, 
who are much older, make no such profes- 
sion, it would be presumption in you to ex- 
pect it now ; don't listen to that for a moment. 
Your adversary has often played that card, 
and sometimes successfully ; but not always 
so, to the great advantage of those who have 
overcome him. I have in my mind now a 
young person whom he persuaded to listen 
to that, and other subtleties, and give up the 
pursuit; and where is he now? Immersed 
in the world — and the last time I heard him, 
he mourned the loss of the joys once felt ; 
but of which there remained but the painful 
remembrance. If you are not too young to 
enlist in Emmanuel's service, and to have 
your name enrolled with his militant hosts, 
you are not too young to have every traitor 
cast out of your bosom. Inbred sin is hos- 
tile to the cause you have espoused ; if you 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 93 

are a good soldier you will not remain in 
league with it ; and surely there is no neces- 
sity for having it there annoying you by its 
incitements to rebellion. There are very 
great advantages to be derived from early 
consecration to God. While the heart is 
tender it is easier having it moulded into the 
Divine Image; when its tendrils have be- 
come entwined around the world, it is not so 
easy to untwine them ; it often happens that 
some of them have to be broken. Many 
have lived to mourn their not working with 
the Divine Spirit when he early called them to 
entire consecration; none ever regretted their 
early devotion to God. You would not have 
the young morning of your days devoted to 
sin; you are thankful that the Lord early 
called you to seek his face, and adopted you 
into his family. Why should you not wish 
to enjoy all the blessings and privileges of 
your heirship ? Why should you be content 
with occasional interviews with your Father, 
when it is your privilege to commune with 
him daily and hourly ; to hear his voice 
speaking to you in accents of unutterable 



94 LETTERS ON 

sweetness, and to enjoy the smiles of his 
countenance ? You will deprive yourself of 
this if you do not conform heartily to the laws 
of his household. O, spurn the enemy when 
he comes to you with such suggestions ; don't 
listen to him for a moment; pray and wrestle 
on until you gain the complete victory ; and 
remember this is the victory that overcometh 
Satan, as well as the world, even our faith. 
I will further consider the reasons why you 
should do so in my next letter. 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 95 



LETTER X. 

Reasons for early consecration further considered — 
There may be much usefulness where great talents 
are not given — Those who have been most useful 
were early consecrated to God — The necessity of 
4 being entirely consecrated to God, that we may be 
kept in his fear — There is no presumption in claim- 
ing our privilege — If others live beneath their privi- 
lege that is no reason why we should, &c. 

My Dear Friend : — 

According to my purpose, I proceed to 
consider, further, the reasons for early entire 
consecration. In addition to those already 
mentioned, there is the advantage of a life 
of usefulness. You can never be as useful 
as you ought to be, unless you are propelled, 
at all times, by the love of God, and your 
neighbor : this will not be the case until all 
your powers are consecrated to God, and his 
love takes entire possession of your bosom. 



96 LETTERS ON 

You may oftentimes feel thus divinely pro- 
pelled ; but, in proportion as any opposition 
to the will of God remains, your usefulness 
will be lessened : the remains of pride, self- 
will, and love of the world will, at times, 
drag you down to earth ; and if they do not 
cause you to retrograde (which they will be 
very likely to do), they will make you often 
move sluggishly. It is when the language 
of our heart is — 

" Take my soul and body's powers ; 
Take my memory, mind, and will : 
All my goods, and all my hours ; 
All I know, and all I feel," 

that we are ready to say, " Lord, what wilt 
thou have me to do?" "Here I am, send 
me." 'Tis then our feet delight to run, with 
swiftness, in the way of his commandments. 
Nor do seeming difficulties deter us; for we 
can say, "Though an host should encamp 
around me, my heart shall not fear; though 
war should rise against me, in this will I be 
confident ; , for the Lord is my light, and my 
salvation, whom shall I fear? the Lord is 
the strength of my life, of whom shall I be 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 97 

afraid?" Are you afraid that your life will 
be too long, to be entirely devoted to God ? 
I hope not. I think you are ready to say. as 
you stand at the foot of the cross, and reflect 
on salvation's wondrous plan, 

" Love so amazing, so divine, 
Demands my soul, my life, my all." 

Then add, here Lord, I am determined that, 
from this moment, thou shalt have all — 

" No more shall earth my heart divide ; 
With Christ will I be crucified." 

Oh that this may, evermore, be the breath- 
ing of your soul! If you are thus conse- 
crated to the service of God, you will find 
that he has inseparably connected happiness, 
both here and hereafter, with usefulness. 
" They that be wise shall shine as the firma- 
ment, and they that turn many to righteous- 
ness, as the stars forever and ever." — Dan. 
xii. 3. Why did Wesley, Fletcher, Hester 
Ann Eogers, Mrs. Fletcher, Lady Maxwell, 
and a host of other bright stars, that have 
from time to time shone in the spiritual 
hemisphere, enjoy so much ? Because they 
9 



98 LETTERS ON 

were "instant in season, out of season;" 
serving God, according to their several abili- 
ties, in their various spheres of action ; and 
they had the testimony of his spirit that they 
pleased him ; and it was of very little conse- 
quence to them whether the world smiled, 
or frowned on them ; it did not interfere with 
their enjoyment. And here I would correct 
an error into which we are apt to run; that 
is, because we have not their talents we can 
neither be so happy, nor so useful. This is 
a great mistake. If we are improving the 
opportunities with which we are favored, 
and spending our time and talents in the 
service of God, and to his glory, in the sphere 
of life, in which his providence has placed 
us, we are as acceptably serving him as Ga- 
briel the archangel, and will as certainly 
find the reward. None, that I have ever 
heard or read of, enjoyed more of God here, 
than one who lived in humble life, for she 
lived in the capacity of a servant. But she 
glorified God in that humble sphere ; glori- 
fied him also in the fire of affliction ; and he 
exalted her here to communion with himself, 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 99 

and after she had suffered awhile, to a seat 
at his right hand. The venerable Wesley 
was acquainted with her, though she trod the 
vale of humble life; and he says, he wept 
when he thought of her loss to the church, 
and calls her "that lovely saint, now with 
God, Jane Cooper." Thus you see, that 
though great talents may, and ought to be 
turned to great account, eminent holiness 
prepares for eminent usefulness in whatever 
sphere we move ; and though that usefulness 
may be of such a nature as to attract little 
attention, it will no less secure the approba- 
tion of him who will reward every man 
according to his work. Christians are built 
up "a spiritual house;" and, though all can- 
not be corner-stones, each one is important 
in his own place ; his removal would cause 
a breach that must be filled up, or the sym- 
metry and beauty of the building would be 
spoiled: those who think themselves of no 
account in God's house should remember 
this. 

Again, I would observe, this will give you 
stability of character. Oh, how many Chris- 



100 LETTERS ON 

tians have to lament their proneness to vacil- 
lation ! They are so easily led away, at least 
in heart: they deplore their heart- wander- 
ings, their littleness of love. Entire conse- 
cration strikes at the root of these evils, and 
there is no other way of having them cured : 
any other mode of cure is but slightly heal- 
ing over the wound, while the disease rankles 
beneath. But when Christ takes entire pos- 
session of the heart, erects his throne, and 
casts out his enemies, then the believer can 
sing with the Psalmist, " God, my heart is 
fixed, my heart is fixed, I will sing and give 
praise." There is, then, no hankering after 
forbidden objects; but his language is, "One 
thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I 
seek after, that I may dwell in the house of 
the Lord all the days of my life ; to behold 
the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his 
temple." He can sing — 

" Now, rest my long divided heart ; 
Fix'd on this blissful centre, rest ; 
Nor ever from thy Lord depart ; 

With him of every good possess'd !" 

Oh what a precious resting place ! My sis- 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 101 

ter, would you not like to have this hiding 
place till all the storms of life be passed ? I 
know you would. Then don't mind your 
youth; believe, believe this hour, this mo- 
ment, and enter in! But you fear you could 
not withstand the allurements that beset the 
path of youth; and it would be better not to 
take so high a stand, than after you had 
taken it to backslide. You have taken a 
noble stand, as a soldier of the cross, how do 
you think you will maintain it if you have 
not all traitors within destroyed, who are 
ever ready to join with those without that 
would seduce you? Are you not afraid that 
the whirlpool of worldly-mindedness will en- 
gulf you, except you have given the care 
of your little barque fully up to Christ, the 
skilful Pilot ? If you think it requires the 
gravity of more mature years to keep you 
in the way of holiness, how do you think 
you can, without holiness, tread the slippery 
paths of youth, and maintain your present 
relation to God? As I have said before, 
this will give you firmness to stand, for the 
Eock of Ages will be your strength. And as 
9* 



102 LETTERS ON 

for the suggestion, that it would be presump- 
tion in you to take so high a stand, where is 
the presumption in acknowledging that you 
are a debtor to the grace of God ; that you 
are not your own, but bought with a price, 
and you come to surrender to him what he 
has a just claim upon? Is there not more 
presumption in acting upon the supposition 
that you are too young to admit all his 
claims, and expecting to share the reward of 
his faithful servants? "Where is the pre- 
sumption in saying, Lord, I am defiled; but 
thou dost invite me to the fountain of thy 
blood, where I may wash my garments and 
have them made white ; I come at thy invi- 
tation. Is there not more presumption in 
asking him to favor you with his presence, 
while you remain at least partially defiled, 
and refuse to wash in the fountain he has 
opened in his own precious veins ? Oh be 
careful that you have right views of pre- 
sumption ! If others go halting, that is no 
reason why you should. If they deprive 
themselves of the sweets of holy, intimate 
communion with the ever-blessed Trinity, 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 103 

that is no reason why you should not enjoy 
it. If they must — 

" Grovel here below, * 

Fond of these earthly toys," 

that is no reason why you should not leave 
them behind, soar above the world, and rise 
high in communion with God. Nay, it is a 
reason why you should honor your Lord by 
showing that you consider him worthy, not 
only of your declining years, when the world 
loses its charms, but of the bloom of youth, the 
vigor of womanhood ; that he is " the glory 
of your brightest days," and that the world 
has nothing to give that will compare with 
his love. If there are but few who desire to 
be stars of the first magnitude, do you cul- 
tivate such a holy ambition ; if any call it 
presumption, care not for it. " Let no man 
despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample 
to believers, in faith, in hope, in charity." 
Oh this is a glorious presumption, if it be 
one! God honors it; and on a dying bed, 
and through eternity, you will rejoice that 
you presumed to claim what the free, un- 



104 LETTERS ON 

merited love of God made your privilege. 
Strange that any one should think it pre- 
sumption for a poor, ragged beggar to sub- 
mit to be clothed from the King's wardrobe, 
before she appears in his presence, when he 
has given orders to that effect ! Oh haste to 
enter, more fully, into the wounds of the 
Crucified, and you will prove them each day 
more healing, and be fully prepared to 
" glorify God in your body and spirit, which 
are his." 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 105 



LETTER XI. 

Encouragements to persevere in the way of faith — Ex- 
amples of persons early consecrated to Gtod — Devo- 
tion to Christ ranks us with the ancient and modern 
worthies, at the head of which phalanx Christ stands 
— Exhortations to an immediate act of faith — Joy in 
heaven over the soul contending for its privilege — 
The thought that those of our friends who have gone 
before participate in it, a strong stimulus to perse- 
verance — The happy consequences of believing, &c. 

My Dear Friend: — 

I bless God, on your behalf, that you are 
determined not to let the world, or the great 
adversary of your soul, cheat you out of the 
blessings consequent on entire consecration 
to God. You say that you are determined 
not to rest until you feel that Christ Jesus is 
your Saviour to the uttermost; until he casts 
down every high thing that would exalt it- 
self against him, and sways his mild sceptre 
over all your passions and emotions. This 



106 LETTERS ON 

gives me great pleasure, and I pray that you 
may speedily prove the sweetness of sitting 
at his feet clothed in the robe of holiness, the 
garment of his salvation. And surely you 
will if you keep to your resolution, and con- 
tinue looking to Jesus, using all the means, 
and expecting the end in every one. Your 
blessed Saviour will soon say to you, " I will, 
be thou clean," and all the leprosy will quickly 
depart. He will cause his Spirit to descend 
upon you as a spirit of burning, and it will 
purge and purify you ; it will take away all 
the dross and tin of sin, and cause you to re- 
flect his blessed Image. Oh, what a precious 
truth ; how full of consolation ! Then wait 
for him, and "He that shall come will come, 
and will not tarry." Open to him the door 
of your heart, and he will come in and sup 
with you ; and the feast will be everlasting 
love. You shall hunger no more, nor thirst 
any more for drops of finite happiness ; for 
he will break to your soul the bread of life, 
and the water of life shall be in you a well 
of water, springing up into everlasting life. 
You shall not be afraid in the evil time, nor 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 107 

in the day of trouble ; for the Lord will be 
thy keeper, and thy shade upon thy right 
hand. " The sun shall not smite thee by day 
nor the moon by night. The Lord shall 
preserve thee from all evil; he shall preserve 
thy soul." And then think of the worthies 
with whom you rank. Enoch walked with 
God. Abraham's faith made him the "friend 
of God." Isaiah's lips were touched with a 
live coal from off the altar of God, and he 
was purified. Samuel was consecrated to 
God in his infancy. Moses early refused to 
be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the 
people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures 
of sin for a season. Jeremiah was sanctified 
to God from his birth. Elijah would not 
bow the knee to Baal, when he knew not that 
there was another in the land who refused ; 
but thought they were all cut off by the 
wicked idolaters ; and he knew they sought 
his life also. Daniel would worship and 
serve his God, should he be cast into the 
lions' den for it. Paul counted all things 
loss, so that he might win Christ. Yea, he 



103 LETTERS ON 

was willing not only to be bound at Jeru- 
salem, but to die for the Lord Jesus. John 
refused not to be banished to Patmos for the 
word of God and the testimony of Jesus 
Christ. Numbers of the early Christians 
suffered themselves to be torn by wild beasts 
at Eome ; and in later times, many have 
submitted to the ferocity of fiercer men for 
Christ's sake ; thus proving that they counted 
all things loss for the excellency of the know- 
ledge of Christ Jesus their Lord. Now, al- 
though you may never be called to seal your 
testimony with your blood, as they were, or 
to suffer the loss of all things for his sake, 
when you make an entire dedication of your- 
self to God you enter these lists; and while 
you maintain this spirit of sacrifice you stand 
in these ranks ; at the head of which stands 
the blessed Jesus, who said, " Lo, I come to 
do thy will, God." " Sacrifice and offering 
thou wouldst not, but a body hast thou pre- 
pared me ;" and in that body he suffered the 
penalty due to the broken law, satisfied the 
demands of divine justice, and thus glorified 
God, and carried out his designs in saving 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 109 

the world ; and now he stands at the head of 
the glorious phalanx of cross-bearers as their 
leader ; the Captain of their salvation, who 
was made perfect through suffering. 

" Our glorious leader claims our praise 
For his own pattern given, 
While the long cloud of witnesses 
Show the same path to heaven." 

And with this glorious leader, and stimu- 
lated by the example of those who have gone 
before, and by the company of those who are 
now pressing their way onward, may we not 
sing, as we travel on — 

" Patient, the appointed race to run, 
This weary world we cast behind ; 

From strength to strength we travel on, 
The New Jerusalem to find : 

Our labor this, our only aim, 

To find the New Jerusalem. " 

If, at any time, you feel disposed to grow 
weary, or faint in your mind, think of those 
who have overcome, and now wave their 
palms before the throne. But, above all, 
listen to your Lord saying to you, in the 
10 



110 LETTERS ON 

most cheering manner possible, "To him 
that overcometh will I grant to sit on my 
throne ; even as I also overcame, and am 
set down with my Father on his throne." If 
you are tempted, hear him say, "Because 
thou hast kept the word of my patience I 
will keep thee from the hour of temptation." 
"Hold fast what thou hast, let no man take 
thy crown." And "him that overcometh I 
will make a pillar in the temple of my God, 
and he shall go no more out." 0, my friend, 
the crown of perfect love is now reached out 
to you; seize it, and hold it fast. Let the 
hand of faith be instantly reached out to 
take hold of it ; if it be withered, you will 
find that the determination to make a pre- 
sent effort will give it strength ; and, with 
every increased effort you will receive addi- 
tional strength, until you are enabled to hold 
it firmly, and to sing — 

" Now I have found the ground wherein, 
Sure, my soul's anchor may remain ; 
The wounds of Jesus for my sin, 

Before the world's foundation slain. 
Whose mercy shall unshaken stay, 
When heaven and earth are fled away." 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. Ill 

I think if one of those redeemed ones who 
have escaped from earth, having gained the 
final victory, could look over the heights of 
Zion, and see you engaged in this glorious 
struggle, it would cause a deeper thrill of 
heavenly joy to animate his bosom ; and, 
were he to speak, he would say, Fight on; 
the warfare is a glorious one, the victory will 
be certain, and the reward a crown and a 
kingdom that shall eternally endure. Who 
knows, but some one whose prayers have 
long since been lodged in the court of hea- 
ven for you, sees you contending for your 
privilege, and strike a higher note of praise 
to God, that the subject of once anxious 
solicitude is contending for her place in the 
skies : no longer content with grovelling here 
below, she prunes her wings, and rises to her 
celestial sphere ; asserts her dignity, claims 
her immortality, and refuses to be satisfied 
with anything less than those immortal joys 
that bloom in perpetual freshness before the 
throne of God : scorning to trifle away her 
precious time, and seeking a preparation for 
usefulness in some part of the Lord's vine- 



112 LETTERS ON 

yard, which, gives employment to every 
variety of talent, so that in " doing and bear- 
ing the will of her Lord," she may still be 
preparing to meet her reward. Oh, how the 
thought should stimulate us to perseverance! 
If the racers in the Grecian games were 
stimulated by the thought that they were 
watched by anxious friends, who waited to 
see them crowned victors, should not this 
stimulate the Christian, who runs for a hea- 
venly prize? and, if he runs on, will surely 
receive a crown of immortal glory. 

0, what a glorious hope is ours! Enemies 
may beset our path, and seek to impede our 
progress by throwing obstacles in our way, 
but they can never succeed while we keep 
" looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher 
of our faith." " Legions of dire, malicious 
foes" may marshal themselves against us ; but, 
with our Leader at our head, we shall pass 
through their ranks unhurt. Yes! we shall 
march in triumph, singing, "Unto him that 
hath loved us, and washed us from our sins 
in his own blood, be glory." Bless his name! 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 113 

"His blood can make the foulest clean," and 
to that precious fountain you are this mo- 
ment invited. Oh, then, by an act of faith, 
"sink into the purple flood!" and you shall 
rise into the life of God. 



LETTER XII. 

Exhortations to an entire trust in Christ and to present 
faith in his blood — Christ's readiness to give us full 
salvation — Danger in expecting him to work accord- 
ing to our preconceived notions — Fletcher's opinion 
on that subject — The simplicity of love, &c. 

My Dear Friend: — 

I think I see you at the mouth of the 
pool, just ready to step in, and yet fearful of 
venturing. Oh, how long you have waited 
there, because when you were going to 
plunge into the purple flood, time after time, 
you allowed yourself to be discouraged by 
whatever suggestions Satan and unbelief 
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114 LETTERS ON 

presented, and you started back afraid ! Ven- 
ture now — hear the blessed Jesus, your Sa- 
viour, say, Look unto me, and be ye saved, 
all ye ends of the earth, for I am God, and 
besides me there is no Saviour; and look 
now, believe now, and enter into rest. I 
see it is come to that with you, that there 
remains nothing, but to venture on Christ, 
and accept him as your Saviour, from this 
moment, henceforth. I know you have faith 
in the cleansing efficacy of his blood, and in 
the truth of his promises, and in his love 
and condescension ; but you fear to bring it 
down to the present moment lest you should 
do wrong. Well now, reflect a little ; here 
you come to Christ believing him to be a 
Saviour from all sin; feeling your need of 
him, willing to be saved in his own way ; 
willing to give yourself wholly up to him, 
to follow in whatever path he shall choose 
to lead; and believing that what you want 
he is willing and ready to bestow. Now, 
can you not look up to him, and say, Lord ? 
thou hast made me willing, for which I 
praise thee, and thou canst never be more 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 115 

willing, or more ready than thou art now ; 
and there never can be a more acceptable 
time, for I cannot make myself a whit more 
worthy, therefore, I venture upon thee now 
— I claim thee my Saviour, from this mo- 
ment, to all eternity, and as such I fully rest 
on thee. "Praise God from whom all bless- 
ings flow!" O, my sister, if you will do this, 
you shall enter into rest — the rest of faith ; 
the Canaan of his love. Don't think any- 
thing at all about the weakness of your 
faith. It may be but as a grain of mustard 
seed, but if it takes hold of the atonement, 
and the promise, it will accomplish great 
results; it is by exercise that it becomes 
strong. Be careful of looking for his com- 
ing in a way that is out of his general order. 
" The kingdom of God cometh not with ob- 
servation," are the Saviour's words. It is 
seldom the Lord, when he comes to speak in 
love, makes his appearance in the earthquake, 
the fire, or the whirlwind; he is more gene- 
rally heard in "the still, small voice," speak- 
ing to the inmost soul, and producing an 
unutterable calm, with a sweet sinking into 



116 LETTERS ON 

the will, of God. All the clamors of passion 
and self-will are hushed, and the soul expe- 
riences a holy quiet, an indescribable rest. 
Mr. Fletcher says, in his address to persons 
seeking this grace, "Be not as Naaman, who 
said, behold, I thought, He will surely come 
out to me, and stand, and call on the name 
of the Lord his God, and strike his hand 
over the place, and recover the leper. The 
Lord usually goes a much plainer way to 
work. Turn not away in a rage from a 
plain Jesus when he says, Go wash in the 
Jordan of my blood, and be clean." The 
human heart is fond of pomp and display, 
but holiness, or perfect love, strikes at the 
root of this feeling ; so that we cannot get 
into this blessed state until we come down 
to the simplicity of little children, looking 
up, trustfully, to a tender parent. Love 
is simple, and it shuns all ostentation. 
The law was given with the thunderings of 
Sinai, but the Gospel came without pomp, or 
parade ; and was only seen in its glorious 
results. Now, I do not mean if he should 
confound, overpower you with his love, that 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 117 

you are to turn away from him, and say his 
spirit must operate differently; but, I do 
mean, that you are to listen to his inmost 
whisper, and not demand of him to speak in 
thunder tones, when he says, "I will, be thou 
clean." Let your faith this moment take 
hold of his word and turn from everything 
else; think nothing about what the peculiar 
manner was in which he manifested himself 
to other hearts, so that you may expect him 
to reveal himself just in the same w r ay to 
you ; leave to himself the manner of his 
Spirit's working, but in your inmost Soul say, 
Speak, Lord, and speak now, I wait to hear 
thy voice. Thou art all love, and thou canst 
not but delight in my happiness; and re- 
newal after thine image is essential to my 
happiness, and to effect this thou hast be- 
come my Prophet, Priest, and King; as such 
my faith embraces thee, and I give myself 
up to be saved by thee from this very hour, 
this very moment! The sacrifice must be 
accepted by thee, poor as it is, for it is just 
what thou dost ask of me, and I have nothing 
better to give. I fly from self and sin, and 



118 LETTERS ON 

take refuge in thy wounds, and rest in thee 
my present, and my perfect Saviour! I now 
believe thy word, and claim thee mine! If 
you do this, I have no doubt when next I 
hear from you, you will have found the 

"Rest of faith, 
The Sabbath of his love." 

I see you just ready to enter this rest; 
another effort of faith, and your soul will 
securely anchor in the wounds of the Cruci- 
fied. May you make it this hour, this mo- 
ment ! 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 119 



LETTER XIII. 

The blessedness of the enjoyment of perfect love — The 
importance of walking in the highway of holiness — 
The perfect Christian derives momentarily his life 
from Christ — The Christian armor given us to use it 
— Persecution to he expected — Christ hath set us an 
example of patient endurance — Necessity of culti- 
vating the graces of the Spirit — Christian perfection 
admits of growth — Christ will lead his people on, &c. 

My Dear Friend :— 

Your last gave me unspeakable pleasure. 
I rejoiced exceedingly on learning that you 
were enabled by faith to lay hold on the hope 
set before you, and that you have been 
brought to experience the sweetness of fully 
losing yourself in Christ ; so that while you 
feel you are nothing, Christ is all in all. O, 
what a sweet experience ! How it makes the 
world sink into nothing in our estimation ! 
How precious is Jesus and his salvation now ! 
How fully is he justified in all his dealings 



120 LETTERS ON 

with you! The glorious Sun of righteous- 
ness has shed his refulgent beams across the 
gloom, so that you can now say, The dark- 
ness is past, and the true light now shines. 
Self is crucified, accursed unbelief is slain, 
high imaginations are brought down, and 
you are sitting at the foot of the cross ; while 
you love to sing — 

" Here I'll set forever viewing 

Mercy's streams in streams of blood, 
Precious drops ! my soul bedewing, 

Pleads, and claims my peace with God." 

Your unworthiness does not now discour- 
age you, for you see it all roll down at the 
foot of the cross, and Jesus Christ is become 
your present and eternal worthiness. Death 
has lost its sting, the grave its remaining ter- 
rors, and a glorious immortality opens to 
your view. You now know that neither 
your youth, nor the shortness of the time 
you have been a professor in the church, nor 
your great unworthiness, hindered Christ 
from bestowing upon you his full salvation 
when you came humbly, and believingly 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 121 

pleading his promises. Oh, what a covenant- 
keeping God is ours ! Who would not trust 
him ? Blessed Jesus, we would believe thy 
every word, thy every promise true; save us 
from unbelief! My sister, look now at the 
road on which you are ; it is the highway of 
holiness, cast up for the ransomed of the 
Lord. " No lion shall come thereon, nor anj- 
ravenous beast; the unclean shall not pass 
over it; but the redeemed shall walk there." 
And as you have received Christ Jesus the 
Lord, so you are to walk in him. You re- 
ceived him by coming out from the world, 
dedicating yourself to him, acknowledging 
your unworthiness, pleading his promises, 
believing his word, and casting yourself on 
his atonement; just so you are to walk is 
him. For want of remembering this, many 
lose the blessing almost immediately. They 
think that because they have made the effort, 
that has put them in possession of their 
heart's desire, they have got no more to do ; 
they may settle down and take their ease. 
In a short time they are overtaken by an 
enemy, and taken captive or slain. They 
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122 LETTERS ON 

had laid aside their armor, foolishly thinking 
they would have no more use for it. and so 
were unprepared to defend themselves ; they 
ceased to watch, and were surprised by the 
enemy. But you will be taught of the Lord 
better than this, if you take his word and 
his Spirit for your guide. If you take any- 
thing instead of these, you get into fanaticism, 
and it is hard to say where you may stop. 
Eemember, his Spirit's teachings are always 
in accordance with his word, and it is a false 
spirit that teaches anything contrary thereto. 
But the Holy Spirit will guide you into all 
truth, for " he shall take of the things that are 
Christ's, and shall show them unto you ;" and 
as he sometimes employs the weakest in in- 
structing his children, that the glory may all 
redound to himself, suffer a word of exhorta- 
tion from your friend ; and if it be seasona- 
ble, give the glory all to God. Never forget 
that since you are got on the highway of 
holiness you are to walk in it ; and not to 
stop until it leads you to the end, which is 
everlasting life. You remember what dili- 
gent use of the means of grace, what earnest 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 123 

searching of the Scriptures, what prayer, 
what close self-examination, what readiness 
to do anything that you believed God re- 
quired, and what faith brought you into this 
state of heavenly union with the blessed 
Jesus : all this will be necessary to your walk- 
ing in him. The sacrifice which you brought 
once and laid upon the altar must be kept 
there. As you offered yourself, body, soul 
and spirit to him a living sacrifice; time, 
talents, all you were, and all you possessed, 
so you must do daily if you will walk in him. 
The language of your experience must be, 
" Every work I do below, I do it to the Lord ;" 
and as the great sacrifice, made by Christ, 
rendered at first your offering acceptable, so 
it must continually be the ground of your 
acceptance. 

Where is the room for the objection of 
those who say, holiness here leaves no ne- 
cessity for a Saviour; we can do without 
him if we are holy? Take away Christ, 
and what sacrifice shall render ours accepta- 
ble? Take away Christ, and what shall we 
do for a High Priest? We shall have no 



124 LETTERS ON 

means of access to the Father; none to pre- 
sent our cause. We have eternal life; but, 
it is in him; dissolve our union with him, 
and what becomes of our life ? We are cast 
forth as withered branches. But, says one, 
it is eternal; it cannot cease to exist. True, 
it exists in the vine; but if the branches are 
separated from the vine, they have no life ; 
bring forth no fruit, and are only fit for the 
burning. Saith the apostle John, " God 
hath given to us eternal life; and this life is 
in his Son. He that hath the Son hath 
life, and he that hath not the Son of God 
hath not life."— 1st Jn. v. 11, 12. My sister, 
you know that you never before felt as 
deeply as you do now your need of Christ, 
and your entire dependence upon him. 
Blessed Jesus, we cannot do without thee, 
for thou art our all! "Without thee we can 
do nothing." Holiness, instead of doing 
away with the necessity for a Saviour, brings 
us into the closest union with him ; it makes 
that union indispensable. Sin separates us 
from him, but holiness hides us in the " cleft 
of his side." You have got on the whole 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 125 

armor of God; remember you are clad in 
"panoply divine," that you may "fight the 
good fight of faith." God does not provide' 
us with armor for which we have no use ; 
and it would be a great mistake were you 
to suppose that you are now to sit down 
and enjoy. You must fight if you will 
reign; don't be afraid of using your armor: 
keep it bright, ready for constant use. In 
times of imminent danger, soldiers sleep 
with their armor buckled on, that when the 
sentinel gives the alarm of an approaching 
foe, they may be ready for the battle. If 
you are enjoying rest now, and know of no 
enemy near, it will not do for you to leave 
off your armor ; if you do so, you will, un- 
doubtedly, be surprised by some enemy ; for 
you are surrounded by a host of dire, mali- 
cious foes, who wait an opportunity of taking 
advantage. You need not fear, however, 
only be ready for fight, or defence. "The 
angel of the Lord encampeth round about 
them that fear him, and delivereth them." 
Expect difficulties; remember him that said, 
"It is enough, for the servant to be as his 
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126 LETTERS ON 

Master ;" if lie was persecuted, so will you, 
more or less. If you are faithful in setting 
your face against sin of every kind, espe- 
cially the fashionable sins of professors, you 
will bring on yourself persecution, let your 
deportment be ever so consistent, or your 
spirit ever so meek. But don't mind that, 
think of the contradiction of sinners which 
Jesus bore when "he was led as a lamb to 
the slaughter ;" and when his cruel persecu- 
tors heaped upon him their indignities, " he 
opened not his mouth." And think of who 
it was that submitted to all this. The Lord 
of life, and glory. "The Creator of the 
ends of the earth." "Him who laid the 
foundations of the earth, and covered it with 
the deep as with a garment ; who coveredst 
himself with light as with a garment ; who 
stretchedst out the heavens like a curtain ; 
who maketh the clouds his chariot; who 
walketh upon the wings of the wind ; who 
taketh up the isles as a very little thing ; in 
whose sight the inhabitants of the earth are 
as grasshoppers, and the nations as the small 
dust in a balance." See him stand at the 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 127 

tribunal of a worm that lie could instantly 
crush, not to receive justice, but to be mal- 
treated, maligned, abused ; insult upon insult 
inflicted upon him, and death, itself, the most 
ignominious! Hear a worm of the earth, 
the creature of his hand, whose breath is in 
his nostrils, say to his Creator, "Knowest 
thou not that I have power to crucify thee, 
and I have power to release thee ?" Oh, im- 
pudence unparalleled! And yet to all this 
the blessed Jesus submitted for poor, rebel- 
lious man. Wonder, heavens, and be 
astonished, earth! Be humble, my 
soul, and refuse not to bear the cross, or suf- 
fer persecution for his sake! Kead, often, 
the thirteenth chapter of Paul's first Epistle to 
the Corinthians. There you have a beautiful 
description of Perfect Love ; and, although I 
would recommend to your careful perusal 
the whole of the divine word, I would es- 
pecially recommend to your frequent read- 
ing the fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and 
seventeenth chapters of the Gospel by John ; 
in these you will see your high privilege set 
forth by our Lord himself. You would do 



128 LETTERS ON 

well, also, to consider often the doctrine and 
practice he taught all through his ministry, 
an epitome of which is to be found in the 
sermon on the mount. 

It is very necessary that you should, now, 
be diligent in the cultivation of your mind 
and heart, "to the end you may be esta- 
blished." Your heart, now, resembles a 
garden that has been cleared of noxious 
weeds, and planted with right plants, and 
sown with good seed ; but those plants need 
cultivation in order to their healthy growth ; 
those seeds need watering, or they will die. 
Close watching is also necessary, lest the 
enemy destroy the tender plants, or cast evil 
seed into the midst of the good. As your 
heart is now cleansed, it need never be defiled 
again; but it will, if you are not careful. 
As one beautifully observes: "When we 
walk the streets of the New Jerusalem, we 
may wear our white robes loose and flowing; 
but here, it is necessary to gird them up, or 
they will become soiled." "Gird up the 
loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to 
the end." Add to your faith virtue, brotherly 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 129 

kindness, charity, and all the other graces 
of the Spirit. Whatsoever things are pure, 
lovely, and of good report, if there be any 
virtue, or if there be any praise, think on 
these things. 

Many persons say they cannot understand 
how that which is perfect can be improved ; 
so they think Christian perfection leaves no 
room for growth in grace. Said a gentle- 
man once (just after he had expressed his 
desire for it): "It would distress me to think 
it attainable now, or to attain it now; for 
then I could grow no more in grace." Such 
persons forget that perfection in nature does 
not imply perfection in degree. You go into 
your garden, and see, perhaps, a little rose 
tree putting forth buds and leaves, and look- 
ing so green and so healthy; you examine it 
carefully, and see it is in perfect health ; no 
worms are preying upon it, and every leaf 
looks juicy and thriving ; and after you have 
viewed it closely, you exclaim: "What a 
perfect little rose tree ! It is in full vigor, not 
the least appearance of decay about it." You 
go into your garden again, in a week or two, 



130 LETTERS ON 

and you find it has grown considerably; the 
sap from the root has been conducted through 
every branch and leaf; it has put forth new 
shoots, and promises to grow to a very con- 
siderable size, and to supply a quantity of 
flowers. Who ever heard you exclaim, on 
beholding this: "How strange is this! I 
thought, when I observed the perfection of 
that little tree, it would grow no more; it 
must cease to grow, for I cannot discover a 
defect in it!" Is it not, rather, just as you 
expected ? You would have no thought of 
expecting that another, which had some small 
worms lurking among its leaves, had grown 
as much ; you would rather expect to find it 
drooping, some of its leaves withered, and 
the whole in an unhealthy state. My sister, 
it is no proof that the plants of grace have 
grown to their full size, the weeds of sin 
being separated from them ; nor do they need 
those weeds to aid their growth. Pride never 
helped humility to grow ; nor hatred, love : 
nor revenge, long suffering; nor haughtiness, 
meekness and gentleness; nor unbelief, faith. 
If we are become trees of righteousness, the 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 131 

planting of the Lord, that is no proof that 
we are grown to our full size ; but if we are 
planted in a fruitful soil, if we are planted 
by the rivers of water, we shall grow up into 
Christ, our living head, in all things; or 
we shall strike deeper root in love ; our leaf 
shall not wither, and we shall bring forth 
fruit in the proper season. Those lovely 
plants, watered by the dews of his Spirit, 
shall grow abundantly. Nor is this figure 
drawn from fancy ; the word of Jehovah is, 
u Thou shalt be like a watered garden." — Isa. 
lviii. 11. Holiness, or perfect love, prepares 
us for growing, as we cannot without it ; as 
the removal of the weeds assists the growth 
of the plants. Precious Jesus, it is union 
with thee, the living vine, which supplies us 
with that which produces growth ; and the 
closer our union, the more rapid our growth. 
Oh, that this union may increase daily, that 
we may be " rooted and grounded in love ;" 
so shall we "grow as the corn, and flourish 
as the vine ;" and be built up a spiritual 
house! This, my dear friend, will be the 
case if we keep looking unto Jesus. He 



132 LETTERS ON 

will preserve the trees of righteousness until 
they are transplanted to the paradise of God. 
He will superintend the building until the 
" top-stone is brought forth with shoutings 
of grace, grace unto it." He will lead on 
his militant hosts, from conquering to con- 
quest, until they come to wave their palms 
of victory before the throne. Though ene- 
mies may seek to defile your garments, if 
your eye is fixed on Jesus, you shall " walk 
with him in white," and he will say, " Thou 
art worthy." That this Saviour may ever 
be your portion, is the prayer of your friend. 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 133 



LETTER XIV. 

Joy a fruit of faith. — Various causes operate so as to 
damp it — An anecdote showing that it exists when it 
is not sensible — Resignation the deepest lesson the 
Christian learns — It is likeness to Christ — Personal 
experience — Faith, love, and resignation the cardinal 
graces — Diligence in the service of God, the way to 
enjoyment, &c. 

My Dear Friend : — 

I thank the Lord that he is leading you 
forward in the way of his commandments ; 
and that you find his ways are ways of plea- 
santness, and all his paths are peace. You 
need not chide yourself because your joy 
does not abound, at all times, as it does at 
some times; various natural causes, over 
which we have no control, operate so as to 
damp our joy, or, at least, to render it not so 
sensible. Joy is a fruit of faith ; so is peace 
and love ; and where any of these fruits are 
to be found the root is ; and where the root 
is, all the fruit grows ; though, sometimes, 

12 



134 LETTERS ON 

there may be more of one kind than of an- 
other. Holy joy is sometimes ecstatic, and 
sometimes profoundly adoring in its nature ; 
and sometimes it consists in a holy quiet in 
the soul, growing out of a consciousness that 
in humility and godly sincerity, we have our 
conversation in the world ; and that God ap- 
proves. In the latter instance, it is hardly 
distinguishable from peace; I believe it is 
that form of joy which we call peace. Some- 
times the Christian has his name cast out as 
evil ; his best motives impugned, and his 
whole course of conduct misjudged. This 
operates strongly against his joyous feelings; 
and the only joy he feels, now, is a secret 
satisfaction arising from the consciousness of 
his innocency, and the sweet assurance he 
feels that his name is written in heaven. 
While this remains he ought not to lament 
his want of joy. I knew a young Christian 
who was once much tried on this subject. 
Something occurred that tried her feelings 
closely, and she fled to God in prayer for 
grace to sustain her under the trial. The 
enemy attacked her with, Where is your joy 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 135 

now? It is written, "Kejoice evermore, and 
in everything give thanks;" can you now 
rejoice? and do you now give thanks ? This 
for a moment confounded her, for she felt her 
heart sorely pained ; but on looking immedi- 
ately to Jesus she was enabled to reply, " Yes, 
bless the Lord, I can rejoice that my name is 
written in heaven ! This cause of rejoicing 
I always have, and while it remains, I have 
joy ; whether it be very sensible, or not ; and 
I do give thanks for the grace that sustains 
me in the trying hour." The snare was 
broken ; the enemy fled ; and she then re- 
joiced with increased joy on account of the 
victory gained. Bless the Lord, my soul ! 
he gives us victory over every foe, when we 
look to him ; and " this is the victory that 
overcometh the world" and Satan, " even our 
faith." The deepest and highest lesson we 
learn on earth, is resignation ; and it is one 
we are always learning while we remain here. 
As we have exercise for this grace it becomes 
strengthened, if we are faithful. We are to 
learn to say — 

" Give joy or grief, give ease or pain ;" 



136 LETTERS ON 

not that grief or pain can ever be as desira- 
ble as joy or ease, but it is the will of our 
heavenly Father that is desirable. We know 
he cannot but choose what is best for us, and 
that if he afflict it must be for our good ; if 
he suffer us to be made sorrowful, it is finally 
to promote our joy; therefore we desire that 
he should send us what he sees best. He is 
the great Physician ; if he sees proper to ad- 
minister nauseous doses or to prescribe a dis- 
agreeable regimen, we refuse not to submit, 
because we have entire confidence in his skill. 
I think there is more mysticism than Christi- 
anity in the poetic expression " Pain is sweet 
if thou my God art here." No doubt the 
idea in the mind of the poet was correct, but 
the expression cannot be sustained. When 
pain becomes sweet it ceases to be pain, and 
there certainly would be no resignation in 
bearing it ; but thousands of the Lord's people 
have felt his love so sweet in the midst of 
pain, that they were filled with joy and praise. 
The love of Christ was sweet ; but the pain, 
so far from being sweet, they sought by every 
proper means they could think of, to have it 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 137 

removed ; and, if they failed, still they re- 
joiced in the sweetness of his love, and in 
the prospect of deliverance from all pain. 

It was this the poet had in view, and this 
the Christian has in view when he sings, 
"pain is sweet." But it would be well for 
us, as far as possible, to have our expressions 
correct, especially those we use in our songs 
of praise, and in our addresses to the throne 
of grace. For, though the idea may be cor- 
rect, if the expression is wrong, we are in 
danger of misleading others. I have heard 
persons say, religion is not what its profes- 
sors say; for, they say, it makes pain sweet; 
but, when they come to test it, they find it 
fails; for, they desire, as much as any others, 
to have pain removed; which would not 
be the case, if it was sweet. The mistake 
lies, I think, in confounding the manifesta- 
tions of divine love which God makes to his 
suffering children with the pain, by an inju- 
dicious mode of expression. Again, many 
of God's most faithful children have found 
pain to be very severe indeed — so severe as 
to unfit them for anything but clinging to 
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138 LETTERS ON 

Christ. When they had intervals of ease 
they could speak of his love, and faithful- 
ness; but, generally, all the bodily powers 
were so under the influence of suffering that 
they could not bear the testimony to a Sa- 
viour's love that they would love to bear. 
These felt their Lord was with them ; sus- 
taining and comforting them, though pain 
was not sweet. I have dwelt upon this sub- 
ject because I know truly sincere persons, 
whose judgment is weak, and whose love 
does not yet abound in all knowledge, allow 
themselves to be much perplexed, and cast 
down, when they cannot adopt the language 
that they sometimes find used by Christians 
as expressive of their religious experience; 
when perhaps the experience, as expressed 
by some of the language used, is not sup- 
ported by either reason or Scripture. We 
must, also, leave with God to give or with- 
hold spiritual joy, and only desire himself. 
To know that he is ours, and we are his; 
and to have the testimony that we please 
him, should be our chief concern. We may, 
very properly, ask him for anything that he 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 139 

has promised, but we are not to set him a 
time for bestowing it, we must leave that to 
him to choose; and we must wait, in faith, 
until his promise is fulfilled, knowing that 
it will be in the proper time. If you still 
feel that you are on the altar of sacrifice, 
desiring only to know, and do, the will of 
your heavenly Father, you have much of the 
spirit of the blessed Jesus, who said : I am 
come to do the will of my Father who is in 
heaven, and to finish his work ; this is what 
you are to be more earnest about than about 
frames or feelings. The blessed Jesus is our 
great exemplar; and he hungered, he thirsted, 
he wept, he was tempted, he was exceeding 
sorrowful, even unto death. As man, he 
needed the ministry of angels; and "he was 
heard in that he feared." The apostles were 
" sorrowful, yet always rejoicing ;" they were 
cast down, but not destroyed. This is not 
the place for uninterrupted enjoyment ; that 
is reserved for heaven ; but, although the 
surface may sometimes be ruffled, there is a 
holy calm felt in the depths of the soul, by 
the one who walks by faith. His little barque 



140 LETTERS ON 

may be tempest tossed, but his hope "is as 
an anchor, cast within the veil, sure and 
steadfast." The Lord's people sometimes 
have sore, internal conflict, as well as exter- 
nal. One writes: "The day before yesterday 
was one of sore conflict. I met with a very 
unexpected disappointment in temporal mat- 
ters, and my affairs seemed brought to a 
very trying crisis. The news was sudden 
and unexpected, and with it came the enemy 
with a host of unbelieving suggestions, that 
seemed to rush upon my mind with the 
overwhelming force of a mountain torrent. 
For some minutes my distress was great ; 
the bare idea of distrusting my Lord gave 
me unutterable pain; and, yet, the enemy 
seemed as if he would force me to distrust 
him. In this state I felt I could neither re- 
flect nor reason. I could only hold, with 
eager grasp, the words, ' he is faithful that 
hath promised,' and on them rest my whole 
cause. I knelt in prayer, but felt I could 
scarcely say anything, only express my con- 
fidence in his faithfulness, and my desire to 
be saved from opposing his will. I then 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 141 

opened my Bible, when the first words on 
which my eyes rested were, ( Heaven and 
earth shall pass away, but my words shall 
not pass away.' I said, I believe it, Lord, 
and my mind became more calm. It appears 
to me there is nothing the enemy is more 
opposed to, than waiting the Lord's time. 
When he cannot make me doubt his faith- 
fulness, his grand device seems to be, to 
make me unwilling to wait the Lord's time. 
Something must be done, says he, it is not 
the Lord's will you should wait thus ; if he 
were going to deliver you, he would have 
done it before now. Eun ! You can deliver 
yourself; you cannot stay here. Bless the 
Lord, I am willing and ready to act, when 
he seems to point out my way ; but, I am 
not willing to run at the bidding of Satan. 
When my Lord assures me that I am in my 
proper place, and that he will cause a light 
to shine upon my path, I will not run out of 
it at Satan's command, although the clouds 
do lower, and thick darkness gathers around. 
I seemed like a vessel dashed from side to 
side by the violence of the waves that lashed 



142 LETTERS ON 

her on every side; but was kept by an 
anchor well fastened to her, and cast in a 
safe place : that anchor was faith in Jeho- 
vah's promises. Yesterday, however, was 
the Sabbath, and, oh how sweetly did my 
Lord commune with my heart! He gave 
me to enjoy rest, and peace, unutterable, in 
himself. I could then praise him, in the 
depths of my soul, that he had permitted this 
trial to come upon me. I felt I would not 
be without it. I experienced such an entire 
sinking into his will as is altogether inde- 
scribable. I felt a greater abstractedness 
from creature good than I ever felt before. 
To-day my soul sweetly rests in God. I now 
have no will but his. In one particular thing 
I never had as little choice before. I would, 
by his grace, have given up whatever I knew 
was opposed to his will ; even if it had been 
pleasant, and in itself a good thing; but, 
now, I feel my soul has so fully centred in 
God that I can truly say, I have no choice. 
Nay, I would feel sweetness in offering what, 
a few days ago, would have cost nature a 
severe struggle. Glory to God ! 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 143 

1 He is the sea of love, 
"Where all my pleasures roll.' " 

Here, you see, was conflict and triumph ; 
joy increased by being made sorrowful. But 
some would be ready to ask, "Is this a scrip- 
tural experience ?" I think it is ; let us look 
at it for a moment. Faith never lost its hold ; 
it held fast the promises ; and what but love 
made the " bare idea" of distrusting painful ? 
Then, we find, faith and love were not want- 
ing; and an apostle says: "Thou standest 
by faith." — Eom. xi. 20. Eesignation was 
here also, saying: "Lord, let thy will be 
done." These are the cardinal graces ; where 
they exist all is safe. Our joy, for the time, 
may seem to have taken its departure, and 
our peace too, so hot is the battle ; but faith 
gains the victory, and resignation waits pa- 
tiently for the Lord to restore joy and peace, 
and they are restored with a fourfold increase. 
What a strong resemblance the temptation 
— "Eun, you can deliver yourself" — bears 
to that of our blessed Lord — " Command that 
these stones be made bread ;" and how dis- 
tressing it must have been to the blessed 



144 LETTERS ON 

Jesus to have thoughts of worshipping Satan 
injected into his pure mind ! Then, my sis- 
ter, forget not that faith in God is the root 
from which all the other plants shoot forth ; 
while that remains in vigorous exercise, 
you will neither be barren nor unfruitful. 
Be careful to encourage your faith by a 
frequent meditation on the Lord's goodness ; 
often think on what he has brought you 
from, that you may be encouraged to trust 
him for what is to come ; and if you desire 
enjoyment, which you may, very properly, 
" be fruitful in every good word and work." 
You serve a kind Master, and he will reward 
you, both here and hereafter. Be not uneasy 
because you cannot serve him in this way, 
or the other, but serve him just as he affords 
you an opportunity ; this is all he requires. 
But be careful not to neglect one talent 
because he has not given you five or ten: 
improve what you have, and it will increase. 
If you are faithful over a few things, he will 
make you ruler over many things. That 
you may have every covenant blessing, is 
the prayer of your friend. 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 145 



LETTER XV. 

The importance of cross-bearing — The kind of self- 
denial we are to practise — The Word of God, and 
not the example of professors, is to be our guide in 
this matter — It is a false humility that shuns the 
cross — We are Jesus' witnesses — No spirit to be fol- 
lowed but the one that breathes in the divine word. 

My Dear Friend : — 

The subject on which you want my views 
is one of great importance ; I refer to that of 
cross-bearing. So much importance doth the 
blessed Jesus attach to it, that he says: 
"Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and 
come after me, cannot be my disciple" — Luke 
xiv. 27. The question arises here — What 
are we to deny ourselves? I think Mr. 
Wesley very clearly answers this question ; 
and, according to his views, we are to deny 
ourselves : first, whatever God has forbidden ; 
we are neither to touch, taste, nor handle 
anything that comes under the divine prohi- 

13 



146 LETTERS ON 

bition ; and, in the second place, we are to 
deny ourselves whatever leads our minds 
and hearts from God; whatever wholly or 
partially unfits us for prayer and holy inti- 
mate communion with God,* whether it is 
expressly forbidden or not. In many in- 
stances, only we ourselves can be the judges. 
There may be things, lawful in themselves, 
in which others may innocently indulge, that 
would ruin our souls should we indulge in 
them. Such is our constitutional tempera- 
ment, that, if we go into them at all, we will 
go too far; or, from the weakness of our 
judgment, we may be led to question the 
lawfulness of some things that God does not 
condemn — as the Jew in the eating of meats ; 
but in all cases where there is doubt, we 
should come "to the law and to the testi- 
mony ;" and if we cannot have these doubts 
removed, we sin if we indulge ; for "whatso- 

* We do not mean by this that we are not to attend 
to our business, though by causing weariness, it may 
for a time render us less fit for these duties. Mr. 
Wesley says, a constant desire to do the will of God is 
a constant prayer. 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 14? 

ever is not of faith is sin." — Eom. xiv. 23. 
But where we have faith in the innocency of 
things, we should be careful that our faith 
has the word of God for its foundation. How 
often do we hear persons say, when reproved 
for improper indulgence : " My conscience 
does not condemn me, you may think it 
wrong, but I don't ; therefore, I am not con- 
demned," when the word of God condemns 
them! Their consciences are seared; the 
Spirit of God, in consequence of having been 
grieved, perhaps repeatedly, has ceased to 
enlighten their consciences ; and they, instead 
of testing their conduct by the only infallible 
standard, the word of God, take for their 
example the conduct of some worldly-minded 
professors, and thus they flatter themselves 
into a false peace, because conscience does 
not condemn them. But in many cases, the 
fault is not with conscience ; it is in the still- 
ness of retirement, and self-examination, that 
the voice of this faithful monitor is oftenest 
heard; like the God whose representative 
she is, she speaks in the depths of the soul ; 
and such persons desire not retirement with 



148 LETTERS ON 

their consciences and their God ; they dread 
self-examination ; it is peculiarly irksome to 
them ; therefore, they very seldom enter upon 
it. Conscience sometimes, however, becomes 
very zealous in the cause of her Sovereign, 
and authoritatively demands a hearing, even 
in the midst of gay and bustling scenes ; but 
wearied with repeated insults, she silently 
retires, and leaves the individual to the judg- 
ment of his insulted Sovereign. Again, there 
are others who, in like manner, excuse them- 
selves from taking up any cross. They do 
not feel it to be their duty, they say. God 
says: "As ye have opportunity, do good 
unto all men ;" let your light so shine that 
others may see your good works, and glorify 
your Father who is in heaven, &c; but they 
think the cross too heavy for them to bear ; 
they are so tender and delicate that they 
would sink under it; therefore, they are 
privileged to walk round it, and let some one 
else come and take it up; and they very 
readily excuse themselves on the ground that 
they don't feel it to be their duty, and their 
consciences do not condemn them for the 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 149 

neglect. Now they forget that refusing to 
obey the commands of Jehovah brings them 
under condemnation just as fully as doing 
what he has prohibited, whether their con- 
sciences be silent on the subject or not. The 
unprofitable servant was cast into outer dark- 
ness, because he did nothing ; he would not 
obey the command — " Occupy till I come." 
The people of Meroz were cursed because 
they did nothing. They let others come up 
to the help of the Lord, but they came not 
themselves. Oh how many such there are in 
the Christian church ! Jehovah himself says 

, to every one of us, " Take up thy cross and 
follow me;" and if we obey not his voice, 
we must, one day, hear it in tones of wrath, 
to our utter dismay. 

* But, my friend, I know that you have not 
so learned Christ. I have dwelt upon this 
part of the subject because I know how 
much the devoted, consistent Christian has 
to bear from the influence of the example of 
these; although often, indeed, they are very 
diligent in exhorting others to the practice 
of what they never do themselves, saying, 
13* 



150 LETTERS ON 

" By all means take up the cross if you feel 
it to be your duty ;" at the same time they 
dignify their own conduct with the name of 
humility, a deep sense of unworthiness, a 
disposition to retire from public view, and 
silently tread the paths of humble piety, &c, 
though we never see them afraid of being 
noticed by others, only when being a witness 
for Jesus would bring them into view. In 
the fashionable circle, they are not all afraid 
of attracting notice, and they can talk flu- 
ently if Christ and his salvation is not the 
theme. But their piety is of such a nature 
that they glide down a perfectly smooth 
current ; no self-denial to be engaged in ; no 
cross-bearing ; no coming out from the world, 
and standing on the Lord's side, where it is 
unpopular to do so. And yet they expect 
to be crowned eternal conquerors, and to 
hear, at last, the Master say, " Well done, 
good and faithful servants." Oh, what a puz- 
zle these are to the Christian who has " not 
so learned Christ," especially the young 
Christian. He feels, in the depths of his 
soul, that he is as nothing before God ; but 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 151 

he knows that he is a great debtor to free, 
unmerited grace, and he has a conviction, 
founded on the word of God, that he ought 
to acknowledge his indebtedness, and to re- 
commend the Saviour, whose power to save 
he experiences. But, how often does he say 
to himself, when hearing the above-mention- 
ed persons talk, " Am T not mistaken in the 
source from whence this conviction comes ? 
Does not this look like speaking of myself 
as though I were something, when my Lord 
knows I feel my proper place is low — in the 
dust — at his feet ? "Would not my silence 
glorify God more?" And thus he is per- 
plexed until he refers to the Divine Word 
for decision, and there finds it recorded, 
" Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." He 
feels an almost overwhelming sense of his 
un worthiness ; but he knows that, notwith- 
standing his utter want of merit, his Lord 
has raised him to union with himself, and he 
communes with him, as a man with his 
friend, and says to him, " Son, go work in 
my vineyard," pointing to him his proper 
place and work ; and he feels, in view of his 



152 LETTERS ON 

Lord's condescension, that all his powers 
should be employed in his service, but is 
sometimes greatly afraid that he will be 
thought presumptive and self-important. 
The language of his heart is — 

" Wean my soul, and keep it low — 
Willing thee alone to know." 

But he hears his Master's voice calling him 
to act a prominent part; and, though he 
dare not choose for himself, he is ready to 
say, "Have I not mistaken the voice of 
another for that of my Master ? Am not I 
too unworthy to be his chosen witness?" If 
he comes in contact with those alluded to, 
how they do increase his fears and discourage 
him ! But, my friend, we are to remember 
that it is " not by might, nor by power, but 
by my Spirit, saith the Lord," that great 
results are brought about. And he makes 
the " weak things of this world to confound 
the mighty." If at any time you are thus 
discouraged, listen to the voice of your Good 
Shepherd saying to you, "Fear not, I am 
with you. Be not dismayed, I am thy God. 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 153 

Bear the cross, so shall you wear the crown." 
If it seem heavy, your blessed Lord will 
bear the heaviest part ; for he invites you to 
"cast your burden upon him, and he will 
sustain you." Oh, what a Saviour you have ! 
And, mark the phraseology here, "I will 
sustain you ;" not " I will take it off." Oh, no. 
He will bear you and it ; and it will press 
you closer to his bosom. As to your speak- 
ing in love-feast, or other social meetings of 
the church where a testimony for Jesus is 
called for, I think if you hold yourself in 
readiness to do the whole will of God, ex- 
ercising your judgment in the matter, and 
saying in your heart, " Lord, what wilt thou 
have me to do?" you will not much mistake 
your duty. "If thine eye be single, thy 
whole body shall be full of light," saith the 
Saviour. It may be very well though for us 
to look at the matter a little. And we may 
ask ourselves, Is it right that we should 
have such meetings? Are they, or have 
they been, a benefit to the church? Do 
they promote her spirituality ? I believe the 
uniform testimony of all competent judges, 



154 LETTERS ON 

from the earliest days, of that form of Chris- 
tianity which we call Methodism, is for the 
affirmative to these questions; therefore, I 
shall spend no time in arguing them, and 
shall only refer to what would appear to be 
individual duty. If these meetings are to be 
sustained, I think the obligation falls equally 
on all who know Christ as their Saviour. 
And I believe one reason why " many are 
weak among us, and many sleep," is because 
they refuse to embrace these opportunities of 
witnessing for Jesus, simply because there is 
a cross in it. Oh, what a shame that any one 
who looks upon the cross of Christ should 
refuse to be his witness because there is a 
cross in it! I have heard some say, If I 
could speak like such a one I would always 
speak. Does not this savor, a good deal, of 
pride ? My sister, I hope you will never let 
such an unworthy sentiment find a place in 
your breast. As Mr. Fletcher says, "Pray 
for the gift of utterance," and you will, when 
you are determined to bear Christ's cross, 
have as much of it as will enable you to 
speak intelligibly of his goodness. Your 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 155 

object is not to make a pretty speech ; it is 
to " magnify God with, the new tongue of 
praise." If you are tempted to think that 
what you say profits nobody, never mind 
that ; at suitable opportunities cast your mite 
of praise into the Lord's treasury, and leave 
it with him. If the suggestion comes, peo- 
ple will think you are fond of hearing your- 
self; when you do not trespass on their time 
and patience, you have the consciousness, in 
your own breast, that, if so, they are mis- 
taken, and you can leave your case with 
Him whose testimony you bear ; it will be 
perfectly safe there. I don't wonder that it 
is discouraging to you — very discouraging — 
to see old professors in whom you have con- 
fidence silent on these occasions, and that 
you think it looks like forwardness in you 
to speak ; and I know that this greatly in- 
creases the cross. But, my sister, if you 
would walk in the light, and have fellowship 
with the Father, and the Son, and have the 
Holy Spirit for your abiding Comforter, you 
must look singly at what God requires of 
you; and you know when he gives you an 



156 LETTERS ON 

opportunity ; and the call is made for Jesus 7 
witnesses, your duty is plain ; and you are 
not to mind what others do. Be determined, 
in the strength of the Lord, to bring to bear 
all the influence you have got on the spirit- 
uality and profitableness of the meeting, and 
leave others to settle the matter with their 
own consciences. But I cannot help think- 
ing that many, especially experienced Christ- 
ian females, deprive themselves of much 
enjoyment, and act as hindrances to the 
weak, and make heavier the burden to those 
who will bear it come what may, by with- 
holding the influence of their example in 
this matter, and the power of their testimony. 
I often think it is a great pity that it is so. 
0, my sister, fix your eye on Jesus, and let 
the cry of your heart be, Show me my duty, 
and aid me in its performance. Take the 
Bible for the rule of your conduct; you 
cannot keep too close to it. If you have any 
impressions of duty in any matter, be sure 
they do not conflict with Bible teaching. I 
think there is, in the present day, a great 
proneness to overlook this. Many people 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 157 

seem to look more to their own feelings than 
to the Divine Eecord for a knowledge of 
their duty; hence, some things are neglected 
which the Bible clearly enjoins, for other 
things which " they feel to be their duty." 
" Try every spirit," and if any differ from 
the spirit that breathes in the Divine Word, 
reject it. If anything is presented as a duty 
which clashes with what that makes a duty, 
turn away from it. Be in everything a Bible 
Christian, and you will be "perfect and 
entire, wanting nothing." 



LETTER XVI. 

Observations on dress — Neatness and simplicity to be 
observed — All affectation to be avoided — A sense of 
dependence to be cultivated — The love of Christ is 
infinite, &c. &c. 

My Dear Friend : — 

The subject on which you now ask for 
information is one, I think, of some import- 

14 



158 LETTERS ON 

ance ; and yet one on which people generally 
are either too fastidious or too indifferent. 
I mean indifferent as to whether or not they 
conform to Scripture rules. There are two 
things that are calculated to make us regard 
it as not unimportant: one is, the Bible 
notices it ; and the other is, it exerts a pow- 
erful influence on the minds and hearts of 
many professors. How many do we hear 
say they have not time for mental cultivation, 
who spend a much larger part of their time 
and thoughts on dress than is necessary for 
either comfort or decency; and how much 
leanness is felt in many a soul because there 
is much more pains taken to appear in "what 
is worn," than is taken to have it adorned 
with the graces of the Spirit ! I think the 
Bible reproves both the followers of the 
world's frippery fashions, and those who pre- 
scribe a certain mode and certain colors as 
the religious style, and condemn those who 
do not conform to it. Its rules are general, 
and condemn what is showy, expensive, and 
immodest ; but while it leaves the Christian 
with these general directions, to the exercise 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 159 

of his enlightened judgment, and the influence 
of a sanctified heart, who is he or she that is 
wiser than the divine spirit, and assumes the 
right to erect a standard to which all must 
conform ? Neatness and simplicity, I think, 
should be the characteristics of a Christian's 
dress. 

"Let thy mind's sweetness have its operation 
Upon thy person, clothes, and habitation," 

says one, and I think the outward appear- 
ance should resemble the state of the heart ; 
but does it not look rather inconsistent to 
see a Christian, who professes to be dead 
to the world or dying to it, adorned with 
useless ornaments or the silly frippery of 
fashion ? Again, since the religion of Christ 
is light and beauty, and all the figures that 
are used in the Bible to represent it convey 
the idea of glory and beauty, is it consistent 
to require those who have it in their hearts, 
to wear dull and gloomy colors? "The 
King's daughter is all glorious within." Is 
she to look gloomy and cheerless without ? 
The redeemed in heaven are clothed in white 
robes, but are the redeemed on earth to be 



160 LETTERS ON 

required to wear drab, or mouse, or some 
such color ? My sister, those who talk to 
you thus, however good and sincere they are, 
bring down religion to a level far below its 
own. God made the sun, and it makes the 
colors ; none can be more religious than an- 
other. It is true, gaudy colors can only be 
worn to attract notice, and this does not look 
much like the modesty in apparel which the 
Bible enjoins; consequently, I think they 
will be avoided by the meek followers of the 
Saviour. They have never been considered, 
by the standards in etiquette, to be in good 
taste, and they have always characterized 
persons of unenviable reputation. But God 
made the " human face divine," and he made 
it beautiful ; it cannot, therefore, be that his 
religion forbids you to wear what is simple 
and becoming. We talk of the redeemed in 
heaven blooming in immortal youth. Why, 
then, should we suppose that religion is in- 
tended to make young persons dress like old 
persons ? Those who think, since you pro- 
fess to have found Christ a Saviour from all 
sin, you should assume a singular appearance, 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 161 

cannot support their statements by either 
reason or Scripture. To me it looks very 
much like the Pharisees making broad their 
phylacteries, and is an affectation of sanctity 
which should be avoided. If any one prefers 
a certain mode of dressing, he or she has a 
right to do so ; but not a right to require 
others to do so. God has beautifully car- 
peted the earth on which we tread, and he 
has surrounded us by innumerable beautiful 
sights, and in all these things he has com- 
bined beauty and utility. Ought not this to 
teach us that we should do so too ? A dull, 
gloomy appearance is perfectly consistent 
in a monkish ascetic, whose religion consists 
chiefly in self-imposed austerities, and a con- 
tempt of the good things which the Great, 
Benevolent Father has given us to enjoy. It 
harmonizes with the monastic cell, but not 
with the heart which is a temple of the Holy 
Ghost, adorned with the graces of the Spirit. 
The world belongs to the Christian — not to 
abuse, but to use — and you know to use any- 
thing is to employ it properly to accomplish 
the purpose for which we have it; and to 
14* 



162 LETTERS ON 

abuse it would be to pervert it from that use. 
Dress, and everything worldly is the true 
Christian's servant, not his master. He 
makes it answer the purposes of comfort and 
decency, but he will not allow it to 'control 
him. No one who walks in the liberty of 
God's dear children, will allow dress or any- 
thing else to interfere with his Christian 
liberality, or with the cultivation of his 
mind and heart. A distinguished Christian 
writer says : u When either men or women 
spend much time, cost, and attention on de- 
corating their persons, it affords a painful 
proof that within there is little excellence, 
and that they are endeavoring to supply the 
want of mind and moral good by the feeble 
and silly aids of dress and ornament."* But, 
in all these things you will have the light of 
the Spirit to guide you ; only be careful to 
keep "a single eye." No one can exactly 
judge for another. Look narrowly into your 
heart ; scrutinize all your motives, on your 
knees, before God, and you will be able to 
decide what is proper for you. I rejoice that 

* Clarke's Com. 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 163 

he gives you to see, with increasing clear- 
ness, your dependence upon him, and your 
obligations to him. We cannot have too 
lively a sense of either. We need this to 
keep alive our gratitude, and to cause us to 
cleave to him. There is but little, indeed no 
fear of us departing from him when this is 
kept up. It is forgetting our momentary 
dependence on God, thinking our mountain 
stands strong, and ceasing to watch and pray, 
that renders us a prey to .the enemy. You 
now find that "love makes all things easy." 
Sink deeper, launch out farther in this ocean 
of love, and you will find duty still easier. 
0, my sister ! what a boundless, fathomless 
ocean of love is in Christ ! Here we may 
dive, and plunge, and drink to all eternity, 
and raptures ever new, and wonders ever 
increasing, and delights ever thrilling, shall 
captivate our adoring souls. Bound every 
heart, and every bosom glow with celestial 
fire ! let every tongue be employed in the 
praises of him who raises us to such glorious 
privileges! May you, my sister, go on in 
the enjoyment of them. 



164 LETTERS ON 



LETTER XVII. 

The beauty of holiness — It brings power to resist temp- 
tation — Personal experience — There is a grief caused 
by the separation of friends that is not inconsistent 
with resignation — It is a great salvation to be saved 
from unnecessary self-reproach — The unction of the 
Holy One will teach all things, &o. &c. 

My Deae Feiend : — 

I greatly rejoice on account of the estab- 
lishment in love to which you seem to be 
daily attaining. Holiness is beautiful in 
itself, because it is God-like. There is con- 
centrated in it all that is excellent, all that 
is lovely, all that is ennobling. Sin degrades, 
but holiness dignifies. God is holy, and he 
is the centre and source of all that is lovely, 
all that is desirable. The higher degrees of 
holiness we attain to, the more we become 
like him. You now find that it brings with 
it a power to resist temptation; and, also, 
that things that would before have been a 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 165 

temptation, are none now. Your inordinate 
creature love is crucified ; you now love all 
things in Christ, and only as they lead to 
him; therefore, what you know leads from 
him possesses no charms for you ; there is 
no beauty in them, that you should desire 
them, for Christ is to you, " the chiefest among 
ten thousand," and the "altogether lovely." 
But, my sister, you have but begun to see 
its beauty. It will keep unfolding new 
charms to you every day you walk in it. 
You will grow more and more out of love 
with the world you have left, and in love 
with the charms of the blessed Jesus as he 
continues to make communications of him- 
self to you, which he will do while you abide 
in him. You shall often be constrained to 
exclaim- — 

" Mine eyes with joy and wonder see 
What forms of love he bears to me !" 

May you go on, in the name of the Lord, 
until an abundant entrance is administered 
unto you, into the kingdom above! and, "as 
iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the countenance 



166 LETTERS ON 

of a man his friend ;" and we are encouraged 
to persevere, by hearing of the sweet waters 
of salvation which have refreshed others by 
the way, and the heavenly ipanna on which 
they have fed, I have selected some of the 
sayings of a fellow-traveller, thinking they 
would be profitable to you. On one occasion 
she writes : " This is the Sabbath. Precious 
day ! Oh, how sweet are earthly Sabbaths ! 
then, how sweet will be the heavenly one ! 
This afternoon my soul was fed and feasted 
on divine things. In prayer I felt as if ad- 
mitted into the presence-chamber of Jehovah. 
Oh, how awfully solemn seemed the place ! I 
felt that I was permitted to ask of him what 
I would, and it would be granted. This 
freedom of access filled my soul with solemn 
reverence. I felt the awful responsibility of 
the hour, but it gave me great power to 
plead, both for myself and others, and in my 
own case, my prayer was answered. Glory 
to God !" Again : " Yesterday was the com- 
munion Sabbath, and truly it was a glorious 
day to me ; my soul was filled unutterably 
full. While I attended the service, my Lord 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 167 

gave me an inexpressibly sweet view of the 
inheritance reserved for me, and of my pri- 
vilege in the gospel here on earth, all as the 
consequence of the application of that precious 
blood which was shed for me. My whole 
soul was absorbed in the heavenly vision ; so 
that for some time I could only weep tears 
of gratitude and love, and breathe to him 
aspirations of praise. The pearly gates 
seemed folded back to admit me, and my 
blessed Saviour seemed to say, in accents 
unutterably sweet : c Come in, thou blessed 
of the Lord [' ' Arise, my love, my fair one, 
and come away !' Oh, how insignificant did 
crowns and kingdoms appear to me! My 
whole heart replied : I will go up, and pos- 
sess the good land ; for, in Christ's strength, 
I am well able. I feel a reaching forward — 
a pressing upward. My soul seems to spread 
her wings and rise ; she soars to the upper 
regions of Christian experience, and cannot 
be content to dwell among clouds and 
mists. I would lie in deep humility at his 
feet, and, in order to do so, I feel I must go 
on receiving more of God ; for the more I 



168 LETTERS ON 

receive, the lower I get at the foot of the 
cross." Again : " My soul has of late felt 
uncommon simplicity ; knowing nothing 
but as he teaches, not knowing where to go, 
but as he directs. Feeling no desire to know 
what will be the result of things, but simply 
to be led by the divine Spirit, assured that 
all will be well ; and it is astonishing how 
the Lord, from time to time, brings light out 
of darkness. Glory be to his holy name !" 
Again, on the 4th of January : "I have now 
closed a happy year of my life, indeed the 
happiest, and entered upon its successor. On 
reviewing the past year, gratitude seems to 
absorb my soul. I can truly say, I never 
before lived a year with so lively a sense of 
nearness to God at all times, and such entire 
reliance on his word. I have for a long time 
had no doubt of the faithfulness of my God, 
or of his love to me ; and I could say, I love 
the Lord with all my heart, and all my 
actions are governed by love to him ; yet, 
conscious of my imperfect judgment, I have 
sometimes thought, when difficulties arose, 
they were the consequence of my own un- 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 169 

intentional impropriety; and I have been 
greatly puzzled in trying to find out where 
the impropriety lay. But, glory to God ! 
Jesus shows me that when I act according to 
the best light I have, ever looking to him 
for direction', I am to believe he does direct 
me, because he has promised to do so, whether 
I have any special conviction of it, or not. 
And oh, how sweetly does this relieve my 
mind of care ! I can truly say — 

1 Jesus doth my burdens bear, 
Jesus takes my every care.' 

I now enter on a new year with feelings 
of child-like confidence. I feel no desire to 
know what my Lord will do with me, or to 
what sacrifices he will call me. Entire con- 
fidence not only excludes all anxiety, but 
every desire to know what is in the future, 
any further than it may be necessary for the 
right directing of my present course. This 
state might not be so difficult to attain to, if 
temporal prosperity surrounded me; but 
that is not the case. If I were to judge 
humanly, things would look discouraging 
15 



170 LETTERS ON 

indeed. I bless the Lord, he supplies my 
present wants, and keeps me sweetly relying 
on his word for the future. I feel that I am 
a whole burnt-offering laid upon the altar. 
I dare not belong to any foreign power. I 
feel jealous for the Lord God of hosts ; and, 
as he has the right to me, I am anxious that 
he should have all my powers employed in 
his service. But, what condescension that 
he should accept me at all ! Oh that he may 
help me to show forth his praise, and to re- 
commend the sprinkled blood I" Thus, you 
see, he leads his people from strength to 
strength; and he will do so until "every 
one of them appears in Zion before God." 
Let it be your ambition to walk in close 
companionship with God, and you will re- 
ceive from him, from day to day, the testi- 
mony that you please him. Sometimes his 
ways may seem to you dark and mysterious, 
but remember you are called to walk by 
faith, not by sight. "What you know not 
now, you shall know hereafter." There is 
nothing wrong in feeling, exquisitely, sepa- 
ration from those we love, provided we do 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 171 

not murmur against God. Eeligion has no- 
thing to do with destroying the finer feelings 
of our nature: on the contrary, it renders 
them still more delicate. The blessed Jesus 
did not chide the sorrowing sisters when they 
wept at the grave of a beloved brother. No! 
but he mingled his tears with theirs before 
he exercised his omnipotence in the resur- 
rection of his friend and theirs ; and thus 
gave an eternal reproof to stoicism! 

" The tear must fall to nature due, 
And let it fall." 

But, don't forget to mingle with your sighs 
and tears, " Father, not as I will, but as thou 
wilt!" "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath 
taken away; blessed be the name of the 
Lord!" Neither is there any sin in desiring, 
in submission, to be saved from the bitter 
draughts of life which are sometimes pre- 
sented. Our blessed Lord said: "Father, if 
it be possible, let this cup pass!" But, it was 
not possible for redemption's plan to be car- 
ried out, except he drank it; and oh how 
quickly ! does he add, Not as I will, but as 



1T2 LETTERS ON 

thou wilt ; and lie took the cup, and drank 
it to the very dregs. Eeligion destroys none 
of our passions, or affections ; it only purifies 
them, and causes all to flow in their proper 
channel. The rightly considering this, would 
save us a great deal of unnecessary trouble, 
and self-reproach. Mr. Wesley says: "It is 
a great salvation to be saved from unneces- 
sarily condemning ourselves." Too many 
are ready to "daub with untempered mortar; 
but, there are others who are prone to deal 
too severely with themselves ; the Spirit of 
God alone can enable us to steer a steady 
middle course. To watch over our hearts 
with a godly jealousy; and, yet, avoid con- 
demning what God does not condemn. You, 
my sister, will have this Spirit to abide with 
you continually ; to lead you into all truth, 
so that you will not need any one to teach 
you the way of living near to God (that 
is, they will not be absolutely necessary to 
you); for the "unction of the Holy One will 
abide with you, and- you shall know all 
things," necessary to Godliness. That you 
may be as "Mount Zion that cannot be re- 



CHRISTIAN HOLINESS. 



173 



moved." "That you may abound yet more 
and more in wisdom and in all knowledge. 
That you maybe sincere, and without offence 
until the day of Christ; being filled with 
the fruits of righteousness, which are, by 
Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God!" 
is the prayer 

Of your Friend. 



THE END. 



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